Anavar (Oxandrolone): The Ultimate Guide

Anavar Cycles

Anavar-only cycle

Anavar-only cycles aren’t common among hardcore bodybuilders because of the steroid’s mild nature. Thus, stacking Anavar with another compound such as testosterone will produce better results. However, with this combination, users will also experience more side effects.

Anavar-only cycles are still effective and a more common protocol for beginners during their first steroid cycle. This can be a wise choice, as it introduces the body to a much less toxic compound, at a time where the body’s tolerance is less.

However, beginners who are coveting massive muscle gains may be disappointed with an Anavar-only cycle. Instead, they may opt for a Dianabol or testosterone-only cycle.

For Men

This cycle is suitable for beginners. Once a man has built up some tolerance to Anavar, he may wish to start on 20mg/day in future cycles and extend the cycle up to 8 weeks.

For Women

This cycle is suitable for beginners. It begins with a small dose to gradually introduce the compound, reducing the risk of side effects. A first-time female cycle can also last for 4 weeks.

Once a woman has built up some tolerance to Anavar, she may choose to begin future cycles at 10mg per day and extend the cycle duration to 6 weeks (for further results).

Anavar and Test Cycle

Testosterone is an injectable steroid that produces exceptional muscle and strength gains. Combining this steroid with Anavar enhances its anabolic effect, whilst increasing lipolysis (fat loss). Enanthate or cypionate are common testosterone esters used for this stack.

Note: For beginners, a testosterone-only cycle is a better choice, as stacking test and Anavar will exacerbate cholesterol issues and endogenous testosterone suppression.

Below is an intermediate testosterone and Anavar cycle. This is more suitable for men who have already completed one or two cycles of testosterone or Anavar.

Anavar and testosterone is not a stack recommended for women, as the addition of testosterone greatly increases the chance of virilization. Elite female bodybuilders may implement these two steroids together, but with the expectation of masculinization occurring in moderate doses.

Anavar and Andriol Cycle

Testosterone is predominantly an injectable steroid; however, Andriol (testosterone undecanoate) is the lesser-known oral version.

Test undecanoate is less popular than injectable testosterone (among bodybuilders) because it is more expensive and less powerful.

However, this stack may be of great interest to people who don’t want to take injectables and want better results than an Anavar-only cycle. There are more powerful and cheaper orals than test undecanoate, such as Dianabol or Anadrol 50. However, testosterone undecanoate is considered to be a ‘safe oral androgen‘ (24), following a 10 year study. Anadrol and Dianabol orals are very hepatotoxic in comparison.

Research shows that liver enzymes do not rise on testosterone undecanoate (over a 10 year period); plus the risk of gynecomastia and prostate enlargement is low (25).

In one of the studies cited above, 80-200mg of testosterone undecanoate was taken for 72 months by 35 men. 9 of them had never received such androgen treatment before. None of these men developed gynecomastia at any stage during the study.

In the second study, 33 men took testosterone undecanoate for 10 years, and only two men observed a mild reduction in urine flow.

Thus in terms of side effects, Andriol is very similar to Anavar, being classed as a ‘safe’ drug (in medicine). However, LDL levels are still likely to rise and testosterone levels will be suppressed temporarily post-cycle.

Note: If you implement this cycle, ensure Andriol (testosterone undecanoate) is taken with food, as its bio-availability is very low when taken on an empty stomach (26). To further increase absorption ensure the meal contains at least 19 grams of fat or a minimum of 30% of the meal’s calories consisting of fat. Both of these methodologies have been effective in research (27). Higher quantities of fat present in the meal, correlated with higher serum testosterone levels in users taking Andriol.

Other Cycles

Anavar can technically be combined with any other steroid. However, beginners should avoid taking it with harsh compounds (such as Anadrol, trenbolone, Winstrol, etc).

Also, Anavar’s dry and hard effects will be counteracted if you stack it with a ‘wet’ steroid. I.e. one that aromatizes and causes significant water retention. Some examples of wet steroids are Anadrol, Dianabol, Testosterone and Deca Durabolin.

Thus Trenbolone or Turinabol may be considered if users want to build more muscle/burn more fat, as it’s also a dry compound. Winstrol is another dry steroid. However, Trenbolone and Winstrol are particularly harsh on the body (Tren more so), hence why they are mainly cycled by experienced steroid-users.

Do You Need to Run a PCT on Anavar?

The main purpose of a PCT is to restart endogenous testosterone production. This is done to help retain gains experienced from a cycle. It is also to ensure your hormones are functioning at a normal level, ensuring optimal physiological and psychological health.

Anavar will cause natural testosterone levels to decline, however, it’s unlikely to shut testosterone down fully.

Previously we cited a study that stated men taking 20mg a day for 12 weeks experienced a 45% decrease in testosterone levels. This was an excessive cycle duration, with a standard cycle length of 6-8 weeks (for men). From this study, we can conclude that natural testosterone production is likely to remain fairly high if a moderate dose/cycle is performed.

Thus, some people doing Anavar-only cycles may decide not to utilize a PCT, and wait for their natural testosterone to recover. This typically can take 1-4 months.

However, if a user stacks Anavar with other anabolic steroids, this suppressing effect will be heightened; making a PCT a recommended strategy. Alternatively, if a user doesn’t want to wait several months, they can incorporate a PCT to reduce this recovery time period.

A very aggressive PCT is:

• hCG – 2000 IU for 20 days (taken every 2 days)
• Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) – 20mg x 2 (taken continuously for 45 days)
• Clomiphene (Clomid) – 50mg x 2 (taken continuously for 30 days)

If a user is stacking Anavar with harsh compounds they may incorporate the above protocol.

However, if a man utilizes an Anavar-only cycle, taking one of these PCT drugs alone should be more than enough, bringing back endogenous production quickly.

For those who do want to incorporate a PCT, it should be started immediately upon the oxandrolone leaving your body. You can calculate this using the following formula: 5.5 x half-life.

Anavar’s half-life is 9.4-10.4 hours (28,29). Although the half-life increases as a person ages, therefore it can rise up to 13.3 hours in the elderly (30).

Thus if we state the half-life as 10.4 hours, the PCT should begin 57 hours after your last dose.

Do Women Need to Run a PCT with Anavar?

There is a common notion that women do not need a PCT; however, in practical settings, women do show signs of their testosterone levels shutting down after AAS. Thus, it is a good idea for women to run a PCT after taking Anavar, as although they produce less testosterone than men, it remains an important hormone for their: well-being, libido and cementing gains from a cycle.

Men produce testosterone via their testicles, whereas women produce testosterone via their ovaries.

Women often report feeling depressed and experiencing low libido when coming off cycles. Dave Crosland, the founder of Crosland’s Harm Reduction Services, tested a female who had just come off a steroid cycle; and found her testosterone and estrogen levels to be extremely low (31).

Nolvadex can be used as a PCT in women, which has been successful in speeding up recovery and relieving feelings of depression. However, menstrual cycles have still taken 3-6 months to return. Female Nolvadex doses should be less than a male, with cycles also being shorter. A protocol Dave Crosland reports as having some success is:

Nolvadex PCT (female)

• 1st week – 20mg
• 2nd week: 15mg
• 3rd week: 10mg
• 4th week: 5mg

However, DHEA is the official medical treatment prescribed to women for low androgen levels. Therefore this PCT protocol is the preferred method.

DHEA PCT (female)

• 25-50mg per day (4 weeks)

DHEA has been used for 4-6 months in trials (32), thus it can be taken for as long as necessary (within this time span), until symptoms of being shut down diminish.

hCG is not recommended for women as a PCT, due to evidence of it enlarging the ovaries (33) and causing virilization (34). Clomid also isn’t an ideal PCT for women, as it may cause the ovaries to become oversensitive.

Anavar Reviews

Natalie Newhart, a CrossFit competitor, admitted to using Oxandrolone (Anavar) via her blog. She stated that her intention was to create a level playing field, with other athletes using steroids for enhanced performance.

Here is her review of what happened after a close friend recommended she take “a very small dose” of Anavar:

“So I decided to join the “level” playing field, and to be frankly honest with you, that’s when CrossFit started to get really fun. It took about 2 months before I started to notice any changes – first I noticed that my body got leaner and more cut, and then my strength numbers started to improve. It was a miracle, I felt like a weight had been lifted my shoulders. I looked forward to max effort days and training in general; it was a complete 180 from the state I was in just a few months prior and I honestly needed it.

Everything remained the same- training style, training volume, and diet- but I finally felt like I was getting out of what I put into training, and I was finally getting the respect that I deserved. Sponsors were hitting me up left and right, training opportunities were knocking on my door, and everything was on point; I was convinced that 2016 was going to be my year.”

Below is a video review from a bodybuilder who has utilized Anavar cycles on and off for over a decade. He documents everything he experiences when taking the steroid, so users can know what to expect:

Interview With Female Anavar-User

Below are questions and answers from an anonymous woman who has cycled Anavar multiple times. 

How much did you pay for Anavar?

I spent almost $100, which gave me a 5 week cycle. As far as Anavar goes, this was pretty light on the wallet considering I was only taking 10mg per day. However, once I added Clomid as a PCT it soon bumped up the price.

There are men I know who cycle Anavar for 6 weeks at 40mg a day, costing them over $500. So if you’re a man struggling financially, you might want to give Anavar a miss!

What Were Your Results Like?

My muscles became really hard and dry. I’ve gained roughly 5-8lbs when taking Anavar during a cut, which I’m delighted with. This is quite a dramatic difference when looking in the mirror, as the weight gained on the scales doesn’t account for fat loss too. However, other women I know have gained more than me (around 12bs from a cycle), with higher calories.

What I like about Anavar is the gains you see during a cycle are real, there’s no 10lbs of water weight that you lose post-cycle, causing your muscles to shrink. What you see is what you get.

Did You Notice Any Side Effects?

No, I don’t think so. One time I had a mild acne breakout towards the end of my cycle, but this soon cleared up. Sometimes I experience mild nausea; however, I’ve never actually been sick.

I’ve never developed any masculine symptoms, which is the most important thing to me. At first, I was a little worried that if I took 10mg per day my voice would get deeper, or I’d start to develop body hair. But so far I haven’t noticed anything. Although I definitely wouldn’t go above 10mg.

Cardio became uncomfortable at times, as I can experience big pumps in my quads and hamstrings when running. But this wasn’t bad enough where it became painful, or would prevent me from taking Anavar again.

What Was Your Diet Like on Anavar?

I was eating 6 meals a day, with plenty of protein in each meal including egg whites, chicken, turkey, protein powder and red meat.

I ate in a calorie deficit, so most of the time I wasn’t feeling full; but at the same time, I wasn’t hungry.

I also drank a gallon of water each day (I usually drink 2 liters) to elevate my metabolism even further. I think this contributed to me looking even more dry and vascular. One of the best things about my first Anavar cycle is veins started to pop in my lower abdominals! This was the first time ever for me. My biceps veins also become more visible, due to the loss of body fat.

Where Do Bodybuilders Buy Anavar?

In most countries it is illegal to buy Anavar for bodybuilding purposes, thus it is often purchased via the black market.

Buying through the black market typically involves asking someone at a local gym if they know someone who sells it, or buying from a website online.

There are 2 different grades of Anavar you can obtain: pharmaceutical grade and UGL (underground labs).

Most steroids sold are UGL (underground labs). This essentially is produced in a ‘non-certified lab’ i.e. someone producing it in their own house. As you can imagine this poses a high risk, as there are no regulations in place to ensure the product is safe.

There is possibly more UGL Anavar sold on the black market than any other steroid, due to few pharmaceutical company’s producing it. Also, the price of Anavar is high, so there is extra financial gain for those who make it.

Pharmaceutical grade Anavar is made by scientists in a certified lab, strictly for medical reasons. It has stringent regulations in place for maximum safety and is guaranteed to be the real product. This is then prescribed to patients suffering from cachexia, where weight loss is dropping at an alarming rate (resulting in severe muscle loss).

Pharmaceutical grade Anavar can be leaked onto the black market through special connections i.e. knowing someone who makes oxandrolone, knowing a doctor who can prescribe it, or even someone who has been prescribed it.

How to Not Get Scammed When Buying Anavar

Anavar is arguably the most counterfeited steroid. This is due to a lack of pharmaceutical-grade available, thus more reliance on UGL versions. Also, the price of Anavar is very high, tempting sellers to sneakily reduce the content of oxandrolone, or remove it entirely.

A common scam for dealers is to label a product as Anavar, but actually sell Dianabol. Dianabol is a very cheap oral to produce, thus by deceiving people in this way dealers can dramatically increase their profit margin (at least in the short term).

Some bodybuilders report that they need doses of 40mg in order to see good results. This is a sign of the product being under-dosed, as 20mg is more than enough to experience significant gains.

Bodybuilders can buy inexpensive testing kits, enabling them to know if their Anavar is real or not. Also, purity tests can be taken to find out if doses have been reduced.

The key to not getting scammed is to find a trustworthy source. Thus someone you know may recommend a certain person or website you can buy from. If that person has already bought from them and experienced good results or has tested the product for authenticity, you can be confident of getting real Anavar.

However, if a person can’t find a trusted source then trial and error are often used. This is a risky process leading to many being scammed.

Another option before someone buys pharma-grade Anavar is to enter the unique ID code on the box, on the manufacturer’s website. This can verify the product if the box is unopened.

Below are legitimate pharmaceutical companies still manufacturing Anavar today.

Be wary of companies claiming to sell pharmaceutical Anavar directly from their website, these are not certified laboratories. Official pharmaceutical companies will not sell any products to the general public.

Anavar Brands

Pharmaceutical grade Anavar is barely in production in Europe, due to generic oxandrolone (SPA) in Italy being discontinued. However, the following Pharma products still exist in the world today:

• Generic Anavar
• Oxandrin (Savient)
• Xtendrol (Atlantis)
• Oxanabolic (Asia Pharma)
• Oxandrolon (Balkan Pharmaceuticals)

Oxandrin (Savient)

Oxandrin is the same product formerly produced by BTG, the US company that brought Anavar back to the market in 1995, driving up the price by 1,200%. The new company known as Savient continues to manufacture Oxandrin today, supplying bottles of 60 x 10mg and 100 x 2.5mg pills.

Generic Oxandrolone

After BTG’s orphan drug designation was over (ending their monopoly), generic oxandrolone came onto the market. Generic oxandrolone still exists in the US, being produced by pharma companies including Par Pharm, Upsher Smith, Watson and Sandoz. These tablets also come in 2.5mg and 10mg dosages.

Xtendrol

Xtendrol is a product made by the Mexican company Atlantis. These are bottles containing 30 x 2.5mg pills. These are legal for natives to buy for bodybuilding purposes.

Oxanabolic

Oxanabolic is produced by Asia Pharma in Malaysia, containing 100 x 10mg tablets. You can authenticate their products on their official website (asiapharma.com). Simply enter the unique ID code on the box, to know if it is genuine.

Oxandrolon

Produced by Balkan Pharmaceuticals in Moldova, the last company supplying pharma-grade Anavar in Europe. It contains 20 x 10mg tablets. Product verification is also available on their website.

Price of Anavar

As previously mentioned Anavar is a very expensive steroid, due to BTG monopolizing the market and driving the price up, costing patients $3.75-$30 per day (depending on the dose required).

Today, Anavar’s price remains exceptionally high for patients purchasing a prescription.

Pharma Anavar

• 30 x 10mg tablets = $308 (35)
• 60 x 10mg tablets = $606

Thus a man taking 20mg per day for 6 weeks via prescription would cost approximately $900. A woman taking Anavar for 4 weeks at 10mg/day would cost – $308.

However, bodybuilders are likely to be buying this via the black market, instead of being prescribed it by a doctor.

The price of Anavar on the black market is usually significantly lower, due to virtually all of it being UGL grade (underground labs). Thus the costs are much lower for production.

After compiling information from a couple of anonymous sources, here are the prices you can expect to pay for UGL Anavar:

UGL Anavar

• 100 x 20mg tablets = £160 (UK)
• 100 x 10mg tablets = $85 (US).

FAQ

Are Anavar’s gains permanent?

Research shows that if a person takes Anavar and doesn’t combine it with weight training, the muscle gains are only temporary (36). This increase in muscle size is therefore lost after Anavar administration ceases.

However, many bodybuilders report keeping most, if not all muscle gains on Anavar, when they perform regular weight training. This high muscle retention is due to Anavar not aggressively shutting down endogenous testosterone production. Thus the body isn’t in an excessive catabolic (muscle wasting) state post-cycle.

In the previously cited study, fat loss was permanent in participants. Thus it doesn’t matter if a person is sedentary or exercising regularly, the fat burned on Anavar will stay off.

How Long Does It Take for Anavar to Work?

Anavar kicks in very fast, due to its short half-life (9-10 hours). Users usually notice a difference in the first 2 weeks.

However, just because Anavar causes serum testosterone levels to rise quickly in the bloodstream, doesn’t mean you’ll experience exceptional results straight away.

Anavar is a mild steroid, so although it is fast-acting, the results aren’t overly dramatic. In comparison, Dianabol is another fast-acting oral steroid (3-6 hour half-life). However, on Dianabol amazing muscle gains can be experienced in the first 10 days, due to it being a more powerful compound.

However, when women take Anavar at 10mg per day, they typically notice fast muscle gains (in the first 10 days). A woman taking 10mg of Anavar per day has a more powerful effect than a man taking 20mg of Anavar per day. This is due to men producing roughly 20x more testosterone compared to women (37). Thus they are more receptive to testosterone’s effects.

Should You Take Anavar on an Empty Stomach?

When anabolic steroids are taken with meals, absorption is inhibited. This is due to them being fat-soluble compounds, causing the steroid to dissolve when taken with dietary fat. Thus, Anavar and other steroids should be taken on an empty stomach for best results.

Note: Testosterone undecanoate is the exception to this rule, where dietary fat improves absorption.

My Anavar Isn’t Working?

If a user has taken adequate doses of Anavar for 4 weeks or more and hasn’t noticed any difference in body composition or muscular strength; then what they are taking is unlikely to be real Oxandrolone.

Although Anavar is not the most powerful steroid, it still has a dramatic effect on lean muscle mass. In clinical settings, even sedentary men have experienced positive changes.

The reality is many steroids are counterfeited in the black market, therefore it is impossible to know what the compound is without testing it.

In this circumstance, if the user tests the compound, it almost certainly will come back as counterfeit (or the purity being very low).

Anavar vs Winstrol

Can Anavar be taken with Winstrol? Yes.

Winstrol is also a popular oral steroid. Winstrol and Anavar combined will accelerate fat loss and build more lean muscle. Both of these are ‘dry’ steroids, so the quality of muscle will be clean, causing no noticeable water weight.

However, testosterone suppression will be more dramatic and blood pressure will rise significantly. Unlike Anavar, Winstrol is particularly toxic on the liver causing ALT and AST enzymes to notably rise. Therefore this combination isn’t suitable for beginners, with Winstrol being a more harsh steroid. 

Winstrol also isn’t suitable for women looking to keep their beauty intact, as it is particularly androgenic. Therefore virilization side effects are common.

Which steroid is better?

Anavar is considerably safer than Winstrol, thus it is a better steroid in regards to side effects. Also, Anavar will result in better pumps due to increased ATP production inside the muscle cells. Winstrol in comparison can sometimes cause users’ muscles to look flat, as its diuretic properties cause a loss of intracellular fluid (inside the muscle cell).

However, Winstrol is a superior steroid when it comes to building lean muscle. Winstrol can be taken in injectable form too, known as Winstrol Depot. Injectable Winstrol is even more powerful than the oral version, considerably more powerful than Anavar.

Both of these steroids aren’t as effective when taken by themselves, thus stacking is a common protocol among experienced steroid users.

Anavar vs Trenbolone

Trenbolone is predominantly an injectable steroid, with the most common versions being acetate and enanthate. The only exception to this is Methyltrienolone, which essentially is oral Trenbolone.

Trenbolone and Anavar’s effects on muscle mass are extremely contrasting. Trenbolone is arguably the greatest steroid for lean muscle gains. It is extremely powerful, compared to Anavar’s mild characteristics.

However, Tren will also cause exaggerated side effects, causing high spikes in blood pressure and significant testosterone shut down. Also, Trenbolone is not suitable for women who want to avoid the development of masculine features.

Injectable Trenbolone poses little risk to the liver in moderate doses with it immediately entering the bloodstream, instead of passing through the liver. However, Methyltrienolone (oral tren) is severely hepatotoxic and is no longer produced in medicine, with research deeming its toxicity unacceptable (38).

Trenbolone and Anavar can be stacked together during bulking or cutting cycles, which will create an incredibly dry physique, resulting in considerable fat loss and tremendous muscle gains. However, due to the presence of Trenbolone, this would be considered a harsh cycle and not suitable for beginners.

Anavar vs Clenbuterol

Clenbuterol is a beta-2 sympathomimetic, being used in the treatment of hypotension (low blood pressure). It is also a bronchodilator, effectively opening up the airways due to the relaxation of smooth tissue. Consequently, it is an effective treatment for asthma sufferers.

Clen is sometimes referred to as a ‘cutting steroid’ like Anavar; however, it is not an anabolic steroid. Due to Clenbuterol not being exogenous testosterone, it is unlikely to affect natural testosterone levels to any significant degree.

However, there are studies suggesting clenbuterol does have muscle-building effects in animals (39). Although clenbuterol’s anabolic potential is not yet fully known as bodybuilders experience contradictory results in practical settings.

Clenbuterol burns a significant amount of fat like Anavar, thus combining these two compounds will result in significant fat loss. 

Clenbuterol’s fat-burning effects are well-known in the bodybuilding community, with it having a powerful effect on the central nervous system (CNS). Clen works by stimulating thermogenesis, causing a rise in body temperature and elevating the metabolism. It also stimulates lipolysis by directly targeting fat cells via the removal of triglycerides.

Consequently, bodybuilders often utilize clenbuterol before a competition or when trying to reduce their body fat. It is often stacked with thyroid medications or ‘cutting steroids’ (such as Anavar), to enhance its fat-burning effect.

Clenbuterol will not suppress testosterone like Anavar will. However, there is evidence that Clen may cause cardiovascular strain, resulting in myocardial injury (40). This is due to the stimulation on the CNS, causing increased levels of epinephrine (adrenaline). Consequently, heart rate can speed up and become enlarged (41).

Other side effects of clenbuterol may include:

• Anxiousness
• Insomnia
• Increased sweating
• Jitters

Clen’s side effects will almost certainly diminish post-cycle. Whereas Anavar’s testosterone suppressing effects can prolong for several months.

Anavar vs Sarms

SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators) were recently developed by scientists to elicit the anabolic effects of steroids — but without the harsh side effects. Thus, SARMs were designed to become a safer oral medicine. This is due to steroids causing virilization, high blood pressure, liver toxicity and hypogonadism.

Anavar has been studied continuously for over 50 years, thus there is extensive research detailing its effects.

In contrast, the arrival of SARMs is recent, therefore their effects aren’t yet fully established.

However, in practical settings, people have taken SARMs with mixed results. Some users notice moderate muscle gains, whilst others fail to notice any benefit, including Lee Priest (42).

SARM-users have also reported side effects equal to or worse than Anavar. Dr. Thomas O’Connor analysed a patient’s labs after he took SARMs. Dr. O’Connor observed suppressed testosterone levels, elevated liver enzymes and very low HDL cholesterol levels (43). He described SARMs’ side effects as the equivalent of taking 50mg of Anavar per day.

Dr. O’Connor also explained that his patient didn’t notice much positive effect, in regards to muscle mass or fat loss during his SARMs cycle. Thus it is possible that a moderate dose of Anavar is not only safer, but also more effective than taking SARMs. However, more scientific research is needed on selective androgen receptor modulators in order to draw this conclusion.

Currently, Anavar is FDA-approved and deemed safe for medicinal use. However, SARMs are not FDA-approved, with the Food and Drug Administration issuing a health warning to those thinking about using them (44), due to safety concerns.

One benefit to using SARMs over Anavar is that it won’t cause masculinization in women. Buying Anavar is somewhat risky for women because it often isn’t Anavar – but Dianabol instead (which causes virilization). However, if someone buys genuine SARMs, this risk is eliminated.

Anavar vs Tbol

Turinabol (Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone), otherwise known as Tbol is another mild oral anabolic steroid. It is similar to Anavar, in regards to it being used in cutting and bulking cycles. Women also can use it, due to its weak androgenic properties.

Tbol is a derivative of Dianabol, being commonly known as ‘baby Dbol’; due to it being a milder version. Turinabol does not aromatize into estrogen, and its androgenicity is significantly weaker than Dianabol. This creates a dry steroid that can be combined with Anavar for bigger muscle gains, increases in strength; and enhanced fat burning. Turinabol is also widely used among athletes, due to its ability to increase speed, power and strength (without the addition of water weight).

In terms of side effects, Turinabol is more hepatotoxic than Anavar, with it being a c-17 alpha-alkylated steroid that passes through the liver. Eastern German athletes in the ’60s and ’70s, who were notorious for taking Tbol, experienced liver problems as a result of regular long-term use.

Dr. Thomas O’Connor also states that one of his patients took Tbol (by itself) for 1-2 years. During this time he experienced liver failure, whilst also being diagnosed with peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts on the liver).

Female German athletes taking Turinabol developed several secondary male sex characteristics, with their faces taking on a more masculine appearance, in conjunction with hair loss. However, these women were also thought to be taking other anabolic steroids which may be the culprit for such virilization.

Thus, Turinabol is likely safe for females in small doses and short cycles, avoiding virilization side effects.

Stacking Tbol and Anavar together will exacerbate cholesterol levels, whilst further decreasing endogenous testosterone production.

Turinabol is thought to be slightly more muscle-building compared to Anavar, but less than Winstrol. Turinabol’s strength gains aren’t considered to be as good as Anavar, with the pumps also being less pronounced.

Can I Drink Alcohol With Anavar?

Generally, users can drink small amounts of alcohol on Anavar and not experience serious liver problems. This is due to Anavar being metabolised mainly by the kidneys, thus causing less hepatic stress.

However, alcohol has a negative effect on cortisol levels (45), thus fat-burning may become inhibited on Anavar. Furthermore, cortisol is a catabolic hormone, meaning heavy alcohol consumption may reduce muscle gains. For maximum results, users should minimize alcohol consumption during a cycle. However, low quantities of alcohol are unlikely to affect a person’s gains.

What Should a Person’s Diet Look Like on Anavar?

Calories are a very important factor when trying to improve a person’s body composition.

Calorie intake should be tailored to a user’s goal when using Anavar. For example, if Anavar is used with the intention of bulking up and gaining lean mass, then a small calorie surplus may be adopted to enhance muscle/strength gains.

However, if a person predominantly wants to burn fat on Anavar, then a small calorie deficit can be used to accelerate fat loss, whilst aiding muscle retention. Cardio or HIIT training may also be utilized to speed up the person’s metabolism, whilst providing cardiovascular benefits.

If a user has no preference, and equally wants to build muscle and burn fat at the same time, maintenance calories are optimal.

In terms of food selection, mainly clean food choices should be consumed, including unrefined carbohydrates and unsaturated fats. Healthy foods which aren’t high in sodium will keep water retention at bay, adding to the dry and ripped look that Anavar can produce.

If junk foods are regularly eaten on cycle, sodium levels will rise, causing water retention. This can inhibit Anavar’s ‘drying out’ effect, causing the muscles to look more smooth; reducing muscle definition, striations and vascularity.

Will Anavar Cause a Failed Drug Test?

This depends on what a person is being tested for.

For example, if an Olympic athlete tested positive for Anavar they will be banned, due to it being a prohibited substance by the IOC and WADA. The same applies in MMA and other sports, with organizations such as USADA trying to catch out drug users.

The army generally doesn’t test for anabolic steroids, as it is typically an expensive test. Instead, they are trying to detect other drugs used such as marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and opiates. However, they can test for steroids, especially in cases where it is known to be rife in a particular unit; or if there is another reason to suspect someone of taking them.

Thus it is unlikely that someone would be tested for steroids in the army (if they are quiet about their use); however, due to random testing, there is an element of risk.

The only way to prevent such risk is to have a prescription for any steroids taken. Therefore if a soldier has low testosterone and is prescribed TRT; even if he tests positive for testosterone, the test will come back as negative to the commander.

The same type of testing is conducted in the Police force. 

Will Anavar Cause Sleep Problems?

Some users experience insomnia or difficulty sleeping on anabolic steroids (including Anavar). This can last for the first few weeks of a cycle, and then sleep patterns typically improve.

However, one way to prevent this is to take Anavar doses earlier in the day, thus decreasing excessive stimulation of the central nervous system at bedtime.

Equally, a supplement may be used to calm the CNS, making it easier for the person to switch off. Valerian root supplements may be effective for mild insomnia, reducing the time it takes to fall asleep and the quality (46,47).

In one study participants reached sleep 36% faster after a single dose of valerian (48).

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is an FDA-approved herb, nicknamed ‘nature’s Valium’ (49). It can be bought in local health stores worldwide, without a prescription.

Due to its sedative and GABA boosting properties, it can also be used to reduce anxiety and depression (50).

Can You Run Anavar All-Year-Round?

Due to Anavar’s mild nature, it has been deemed ‘safe’ in long-term studies (51), causing bodybuilders and fitness models to use Anavar year-round.

This is more common in Instagram models or people regularly appearing on magazine covers. There is high pressure on them to constantly look ripped, so they utilize Anavar like someone would use TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).

The benefits of doing this are to keep their body fat very low, whilst continuously looking big and full. Also, a user won’t need to diet as hard, or train as intensely due to this extra anabolic support. Therefore, in theory, they could remain looking in peak condition, despite decreasing the intensity of their workouts or incorporating more cheat meals.

However, with Anavar’s fat-burning effects being permanent and most muscle gains being retained from a cycle, there isn’t a great need to use Anavar continuously like this.

The downside to using Anavar all year round is that testosterone suppression will become exacerbated and blood pressure LDL cholesterol levels will remain elevated for a longer period of time. This will take a person’s natural testosterone production longer to recover once they finally come off Anavar, whilst increasing their chance of cardiovascular disease.

Equally, by utilizing Anavar year-round on a lower dose, compared to administrating a higher dose in the short term, the person is less likely to notice any results. This is because it will be a slower process. However, a higher dose in a short 6 week cycle, will usually result in people commenting on muscle gains/fat loss.

Anavar Made Me Gain Fat?

If the person’s body fat percentage appears to have increased on Anavar, and they haven’t been overeating; then it is almost certainly Dianabol.

In this incidence, users will also experience water retention and bloating (which Anavar does not cause), plus heightened anabolic effects.

Also if a person has experienced gynecomastia, this is an indication that the substance is Dianabol (52). These are some of the issues bodybuilders face when buying UGL Anavar.

Summary

Pros:

• Increases Lean Muscle
• Reduces Body Fat
• Increases Strength
• Female-Friendly
• Mild Side Effects

Cons:

• Very expensive
• Not as powerful as other AAS
• Real Anavar difficult to get hold of
• Often counterfeited
• Cholesterol levels will still rise
• Some testosterone suppression