Oxymetholone — Anadrol by Dragon Pharma
Anadrol is Dragon Pharma's formulation of oral Oxymetholone at 50mg per tablet — one of the most potent oral mass-building steroids available, originally developed as a treatment for anaemia and muscle wasting conditions. Supplied in a 100-tablet pack, Anadrol produces among the most rapid increases in size and strength of any oral compound, with a distinct mechanism that separates it from other mass-building orals.
Also searched as: Oxymetholone 50mg, Anadrol 50, Oxy, Anadrol Dragon Pharma.
What Is Oxymetholone (Anadrol)?
Oxymetholone is a DHT-derived oral anabolic steroid — yet its side effect profile is paradoxically more similar to aromatising compounds than other DHT derivatives. This is because Oxymetholone does not convert to estrogen via aromatase (it cannot — it's a DHT derivative), but instead appears to activate estrogen receptors directly and through progestogenic activity. This distinction matters practically: aromatase inhibitors have limited effectiveness at managing Anadrol's estrogenic-type side effects, unlike with testosterone-based compounds where AIs address the root cause. The result is significant water retention and potential gynecomastia through a pathway that AIs cannot fully block.
The Anadrol Paradox — Why AIs Don't Fully Work
This is one of the most important and least-explained aspects of Anadrol use, and a critical information gap in most competitor content:
- Oxymetholone cannot aromatise — it has no aromatase substrate in its structure due to the DHT base
- Despite this, it produces significant estrogenic-type effects including water retention, potential gynecomastia and mood changes
- The mechanism is direct estrogen receptor agonism and/or progestogenic receptor activity — not aromatase conversion
- Consequence: aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex or Aromasin reduce circulating estrogen from other compounds in a stack, but they cannot block Oxymetholone's direct receptor activity
- SERMs (Nolvadex) are generally considered more useful than AIs for managing Anadrol-specific gynecomastia risk, as they block the estrogen receptor rather than reducing estrogen production
Effects and Benefits
- Among the most rapid mass gains of any oral steroid — significant size and strength increases often visible within the first week
- Exceptional strength increases — Anadrol is frequently cited as producing greater acute strength gains than Dianabol at comparable doses
- Originally developed for anaemia — Oxymetholone increases red blood cell count and erythropoiesis, improving oxygen delivery and training endurance
- Improved joint lubrication and connective tissue resilience during high-volume training, attributed to water retention in joint spaces
- Clinically proven: Phase III trials in HIV-related muscle wasting showed 8kg average lean mass gain over 30 weeks at 150mg/day
Dosage and Administration
| Experience Level | Typical Dose | Cycle Length |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 50 mg/day (1 tab) | 4–6 weeks |
| Intermediate | 50–100 mg/day (1–2 tabs) | 4–6 weeks |
| Advanced | 100 mg/day (2 tabs) | 4 weeks maximum |
With an ~8-9 hour half-life, Anadrol can be taken once daily though some users split the dose. Unlike Dianabol where splitting is more important due to its shorter 3-6 hour half-life, Anadrol's longer half-life makes once-daily dosing practical. Cycle length is typically limited to 4-6 weeks due to hepatotoxicity, with most advanced users keeping the 100mg/day dose to 4 weeks maximum.
Anadrol vs Dianabol — The Core Comparison
These are the two most commonly compared mass-building orals, and the comparison is more nuanced than most content suggests:
| Parameter | Anadrol (Oxymetholone) | Dianabol (Methandienone) |
|---|---|---|
| Anabolic ratio | 320 | 210 |
| Androgenic ratio | 45 | 60 |
| Half-life | ~8–9 hours | ~3–6 hours |
| Aromatisation | None (but direct ER activity) | Significant (via aromatase) |
| AI effectiveness | Limited — direct ER agonism | High — blocks aromatase conversion |
| Water retention | Very high — mechanism differs | High — estrogen-driven |
| Strength gains | Generally greater, faster onset | Significant but slightly slower |
| Appetite effect | Reduced appetite in some users | Increased appetite common |
| Dosing frequency | Once daily practical | 2–3x daily preferred |
The key practical distinction: Anadrol produces greater and faster strength and size at equivalent doses but is harder to manage estrogenically. Dianabol's water retention is more controllable with AIs. Users sensitive to water retention and gynecomastia often find Dianabol more manageable despite being the "weaker" compound on paper.
Side Effects
- Significant water retention and estrogenic-type effects — AIs provide limited benefit; Nolvadex is generally more useful for gynecomastia prevention with Anadrol specifically
- Hepatotoxicity — significant with extended use; liver enzyme monitoring is essential; cycle length limited to 4-6 weeks
- Suppression of natural testosterone — Post Cycle Therapy is required
- Potential paradoxical appetite reduction at higher doses — a less-discussed but reported side effect that can limit caloric intake during bulking
- Elevated blood pressure and negative cholesterol impact
Anadrol + Trenbolone — An Unexpected Synergy
This combination is rarely explained well in competitor content. Conventionally these two compounds seem redundant — both cause significant side effects and neither aromatises. In practice, some advanced users report the combination produces exceptional hardness and strength beyond either compound alone, potentially because:
- Anadrol's direct estrogen receptor activity provides some of the fullness and joint support typically lost when running non-aromatising compounds alone
- Trenbolone's strong androgen receptor binding and fat loss properties complement Anadrol's mass and strength without adding significant additional water
- Both compounds have complementary half-lives and mechanisms, reducing the overlap in side effect profiles compared to stacking two aromatising compounds
This is an advanced-only combination, typically used for short competition preparation phases by experienced users only.
Building a Cycle Around Anadrol
- Enantat 250 or Cypionat 250 as the testosterone base
- Deca 300 for extended mass cycles with Anadrol as kickstart
- Nolvadex on hand from day one — preferred over AIs for Anadrol-specific gynecomastia management
- Clomid for Post Cycle Therapy
"Anadrol is formulated at a precise 50mg dose per tablet — the clinical dose used in original development for muscle-wasting conditions, and the standard unit of dosing around which most protocols are built."
Storage and Handling
Store Anadrol at room temperature, away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep the original packaging sealed until use to maintain tablet potency over the product's shelf life.