Anavar Cycle: How to Maximize Your Gains & FAQ
Disclaimer: The following article is for educational purposes only and does not promote the use of illegal steroids. If you have any questions or concerns, Dr. Touliatos is currently available for consultation.
Anavar (Oxandrolone) is arguably the most popular steroid in the world, with large numbers of men and women cycling it. Some people love Anavar so much that they blast and cruise it, meaning they run it all year round like TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
Many steroids are taken solely by men; however, Anavar is the exception, hence its nickname, ‘the girl steroid’.
However, this isn’t to say Anavar is only for females, with many strongmen and powerlifters also utilizing this steroid due to its positive effects on strength.
Anavar’s benefits are well-known, with it having the ability to increase lean muscle mass while decreasing a person’s body fat percentage at the same time.
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Perhaps Anavar’s best trait is that it’s one of the safest steroids you can take.
It does not produce harsh side effects, hence why women and children have taken this steroid with great success in research trials (for medicinal purposes).
This guide is designed to help you run an effective Anavar cycle to maximize results while reducing side effects (whether you’re a male or female, beginner, intermediate, or advanced steroid user).
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.
Best Anavar Source
If you suffer from cachexia or osteoporosis and require Anavar for medicinal purposes, we recommend Prestige Pharmaceuticals due to their product efficacy and fast worldwide shipping (2–6 days).
Anavar is legal to purchase in some countries and not in others; thus, it is the responsibility of users to act within the confines of their native law.
Inside Bodybuilding does not condone the use of AAS via illegal means or for cosmetic use.
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Taking Anavar by itself is an effective cycle, often used by beginners and intermediates during a cutting phase. An Anavar-only cycle will enhance fat burning while adding some muscle mass when eating fewer calories.
In our experience, women will typically only run Anavar-only cycles, whereas men who have taken steroids before are more likely to stack them with other compounds.
An Anavar-only cycle is one of the best protocols for beginners because it’s a mild steroid and thus won’t cause dangerous side effects in first-time users. Thus, it’s an optimal compound to use when introducing the body to steroids.
A few of our patients have admitted to being afraid of taking steroids (because of the toxic side effects), yet they feel comfortable running an Anavar cycle because of its mild nature.
For Men
This is a typical Anavar-only cycle for beginners. This would be a mild and suitable cycle for a first-time steroid user. The follow-up cycle for this may begin with a dose of 20mg instead of 15mg and may be extended up to 8 weeks.
Typical results from an Anavar-only cycle
For Women
This Anavar cycle is suitable for women who are beginners. It’s very important to be cautious in regards to the dose and cycle length for women to avoid masculinization effects occurring.
We have found Anavar to be one of the best steroids for women, lowering the risk of virilization side effects (such as hair growth, clitoral enlargement, and smaller breasts). However, the above adverse effects, although uncommon, are still possible on Anavar (when incorrectly utilized).
By following this cautious cycle protocol, the risk of developing these side effects will be extremely low due to the small dose and short cycle length. We typically see virilization side effects gradually happen over a period of time; thus, a woman can simply discontinue her cycle if she begins to experience any unwanted symptoms.
Typical results from an Anavar-only cycle (female)
Note: This cycle is only recommended for men due to testosterone causing virilization side effects in women.
If there’s a steroid besides Anavar that’s suitable for beginners to take, it would be testosterone.
Testosterone is the best steroid we have found in terms of risk vs. reward.
Testosterone will produce large increases in muscle mass and strength, with it being classified as a bulking steroid.
Our lipid profiles show that testosterone does not place significant strain on the heart, contrary to other steroids. Also, testosterone is not hepatotoxic (as it is an injectable). These are the two biggest concerns we have when someone is taking anabolic steroids (protecting the heart and liver).
In regards to side effects, testosterone suppression will be more significant when stacking Anavar with testosterone. Also, cholesterol levels will rise slightly higher compared to taking either one by itself. We have also found androgenic side effects such as oily skin, acne, and hair thinning (on the scalp) to be more prevalent with this duo.
The different types of injectable testosterone are:
- Test suspension
- Test cypionate
- Test enanthate
- Test acetate
- Test propionate
- Sustanon 250
These different types of testosterone are all the same steroid but with different esters, which can dictate how fast it’s absorbed and how long it stays in the body. The most popular forms of testosterone are enanthate and cypionate, due to their price and ease of injection.
This cycle may be taken after an Anavar-only cycle.
This cycle will greatly enhance muscle building and strength gains compared to taking Anavar alone.
These are conservative doses and thus suitable for someone with little experience using anabolic steroids. However, such a cycle is not optimal for someone who’s never taken steroids before (in this case, a stack shouldn’t be used).
This is the perfect follow-up cycle to the first Anavar and test cycle listed.
We find that intermediates who have previously taken Anavar and testosterone (in single cycles) frequently use this cycle.
Taking higher doses than those specified in this cycle greatly increases the risk of side effects without much more to show in the way of gains.
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Not everyone is a fan of needles; thus, below is an oral cycle of Anavar and Testosterone (Andriol).
Andriol is the brand name for oral testosterone, also known as Testosterone Undecanoate. For many, this is a more convenient method of administering testosterone compared to injections.
The downside to oral testosterone is that it’s very expensive compared to injectable testosterone. When you factor in the price of Anavar, this will make for a very expensive cycle (costing a few hundred dollars plus).
However, for those who want maximum gains (when taking orals) with as little risk as possible, this is it.
Generally, we find orals to be very liver toxic; however, Anavar and Andriol are the exceptions. The kidneys help to metabolize Anavar, placing less stress on the liver, while long-term studies have shown Andriol to provide no hepatic strain.
A 10-year study of men using Andriol showed no notable increase in ALT and AST readings (markers of hepatotoxicity). Our anecdotal findings also correlate.
Important: When taking Andriol (Test Undecanoate), make sure you take the tablets with a high-fat snack or meal. Aim for at least 19 grams of fat with each dose. Research has shown that the biological availability of oral testosterone is roughly 50% lower when taken on an empty stomach (1).
For Men
This makes for the ultimate cutting cycle, where users can expect rapid fat loss and significant muscle gains.
Anavar and Winstrol have many similarities, with both creating a dry and ripped look. Both are also oral steroids, used for stripping fat when cutting.
We have found Winstrol to be the more powerful of the two and not suitable for beginners due to its toxicity. Thus, this cycle is only suitable for intermediate or advanced steroid users.
Users can expect Anavar’s usual mild side effects plus significant liver strain, testosterone suppression, and cardiovascular strain with the addition of Winstrol.
Due to the harshness of Winstrol, this cycle only lasts for 6 weeks, with advanced steroid users often extending this cycle to 8 weeks.
We see this type of cutting stack used by bodybuilders when prepping for a show, aggressively trying to reduce body fat and hang on to hard-earned muscle.
For Women
Winstrol isn’t generally recommended for women, because of its high risk of causing masculinization.
Thus, to reduce the chances of women losing their femininity, a very small dose of Winstrol is listed in the above cycle.
Despite a smaller dose, we find Winstrol still produces significant gains due to the sheer power of the steroid.
This cycle is not recommended for female beginners. Instead, it should only be utilized among women who have already undergone several steroid cycles or, at a minimum, have taken Anavar before.
We notice the risk of virilization increases when stacking Anavar and Winstrol together; thus, it should only be done in certain circumstances, i.e., preparing for a competition where the stakes are high. If women are simply trying to get in great shape, Anavar alone is sufficient.
Clenbuterol is a beta2-antagonist (not a steroid) often used in medicine as an anti-asthma drug.
Clenbuterol is certainly a powerful addition to any cutting cycle due to its potent effects on metabolism. Clenbuterol has profound effects on the central nervous system, causing the body to produce more adrenaline. Consequently, the body heats up and enters a state of thermogenesis, accelerating fat loss (at rest).
Clenbuterol has also been shown to have potent anabolic effects in animals.
However, anecdotally, we do not see the same muscle-building effects in humans. Thus, an Anavar and Clenbuterol cycle will likely produce rapid fat loss with moderate increases in lean muscle and strength.
Due to the stimulative effects of Clenbuterol, energy levels and motivation are also likely to go through the roof.
Clenbuterol, like Anavar, is available in tablet form.
Considering that Clenbuterol is not a steroid, usual side effects such as gynecomastia, liver toxicity, acne, water retention, etc. are not an issue.
The main concern we have with Clenbuterol is cardiotoxicity, with it increasing a user’s heart rate significantly. Thus, it’s recommended to keep cycles short and to avoid taking Clen if your cardiovascular health is less than optimal.
Anavar and Clenbuterol Cycles For Men
As shown below, Clenbuterol is cycled in increments (by increasing the dose slowly every few days until hitting a maximum dose). This is done for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, a person can gauge their sensitivity to Clen by starting on a low dose and building up slowly. Starting on a high dose too soon may result in harsh side effects such as shaking, insomnia, and a racing heartbeat.
Secondly, we find that people build a tolerance to Clenbuterol very quickly; thus, an incremental dosing strategy can help users continue burning fat all the way throughout their cycle. This sample cycle lasts 4 weeks; no Clenbuterol cycle should extend beyond 6 weeks. After this time, the body’s temperature drops back down to its normal range, signifying a halt in thermogenesis (and thus fat loss).
The Anavar dose (20mg) lasts for 8 weeks. This dose is optimal for someone who’s already taken Anavar (or other steroids).
Anavar and Clenbuterol Cycles For Women
Clenbuterol is a suitable drug for women, as it doesn’t produce virilization side effects.
Unlike with steroids, a woman’s dose of Clen is typically similar to a man’s. Women produce a fraction of the testosterone a man produces; thus, a smaller dose of exogenous testosterone is needed to mimic the same effects.
In Clenbuterol’s case, because it doesn’t affect testosterone but instead the central nervous system, women often take an identical dose as men.
The Anavar dose below reflects a cautious dose for women that would be suitable for beginners. A higher dose of Anavar may be taken for more experienced users, starting at 10mg per day.
Do you need to run a PCT?
Anavar is a mild steroid, so running a PCT (post-cycle therapy) isn’t as essential as it is optional.
In our experience, Anavar does not shut down testosterone levels completely. Instead, they will become suppressed and take several weeks to recover to optimal levels. We have found that implementing a PCT can significantly speed up this process.
During this time of recovery, users may feel tired, have a low mood, and have a weakened libido post-cycle. Such after-effects aren’t just related to men but also to women.
This is because steroids also have a powerful effect on women’s hormones, with their endogenous testosterone levels getting sapped. Although women have far less testosterone compared to men, it remains an important hormone in their body chemistry. Women at our clinic often report a mild ‘crash’ from Anavar post-cycle.
An aggressive PCT is not required after an Anavar-only cycle. We have had success with men taking Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) or Clomid (Clomiphene) to help recover their testosterone production. This is more than sufficient.
- Nolvadex should be dosed at 40mg per day for 45 days, with 2 x 20mg pills taken daily.
- Clomid should be dosed at 100mg per day for 30 days, with 2 x 50mg pills taken daily.
Users should start their PCT approximately 57 hours after the last dose of Anavar. This is the estimated time that Anavar will fully clear out of the body.
You can work out when a steroid leaves the body by using the following equation: 5.5 x the half-life.
Anavar’s half-life is 9.4–10.4 hours.
We have not found Anavar to pose a serious risk to the liver when taken in sensible doses or cycles. Thus, users often take Anavar without a liver support supplement.
However, for those wanting maximum protection, TUDCA may be taken, which we have seen reduce oxidative stress on the internal organ. Clinical research has also shown TUDCA to significantly lower ALT and AST liver values, with both of these being markers of liver strain or damage (2).
If Anavar is stacked with other hepatotoxic orals, such as Winstrol, Anadrol or Dianabol — a liver support supplement is essential.
Alcohol generally should be avoided when taking oral anabolic steroids, as it will exacerbate liver values. However, for most users who generally have a healthy liver, small amounts of alcohol are likely to be fine.
We have seen patients who have consumed high amounts of alcohol during oral cycles, and their ALT/AST levels only increased marginally above baseline. However, there are other patients who didn’t touch a drop of alcohol and yet experienced hepatic peliosis.
The only way to know if you can drink small to moderate amounts of alcohol on a cycle would be to get your ALT and AST levels checked during it.
It is important to note that alcohol increases cortisol; thus, it will blunt Anavar’s fat-burning effects, so this also needs to be considered.
If you notice your skin or eyes turn a yellow color and you experience pain or discomfort in the abdominal region, immediately stop taking Anavar (and any other steroids) and visit your doctor.
Where Do People Buy Anavar?
Anavar is illegal to use for bodybuilding purposes due to the Anabolic Steroids Control Act in 1990 (3). Therefore, bodybuilders purchase Anavar via the black market if they want to cycle it.
In real-life terms, buying from the black market means buying from a person who deals drugs or a website that claims to sell Anavar.
However, buying from the black market is an illegal practice and comes with several other disadvantages, such as Anavar being counterfeited, spiked with dangerous substances, and underdosed (4).
Consequently, some bodybuilders are using legal Anavar alternatives, such as Anvarol, which mimics the same fat-burning and anabolic effects in the body as Anavar. However, we have not seen Anvarol cause any side effects, so you won’t experience any testosterone suppression or raised cholesterol levels like you would with Anavar (5).
Anvarol is manufactured by Crazy Bulk, is FDA-approved, and is available to order online without a prescription. Another benefit of Anvarol is that it’s considerably cheaper than Anavar, with the latter being very costly to cycle.
We recommend Anvarol (legal Anavar), ensuring our readers stay within the confines of the law and make gains safely.
Co Authors :
For TRT inquiries, please contact Dr. O’Connor via the Anabolic Doc App.
Over the last 20 years, Dr. O’Connor has successfully treated thousands of men who have taken anabolic steroids, SARMs, and other PEDs, giving him first-hand experience of their effects. Board-certified MD since 2005.
