If you’ve been researching ‘roids, or have already been down the anabolic route, then you’re probably already familiar with this baby.

Anavar is one the most coveted oral steroids in the bodybuilding community. Part of this popularity is owed to the fact that it has a much less aggressive effect on the body than its rival steroids. So, does that mean it’s safe to use?

Let’s get some background info on the world’s favourite steroid.

What is Anavar?

First produced in 1964, Anavar was the brand name for oxandrolone, which is an anabolic steroid. Although the drug was originally introduced to help muscle regrowth in diseases that cause unwanted weight loss, it quickly became a go-to drug for people seeking a mega-physique. This gave the drug a lot of bad press, and production of Anavar was stopped in 1989. Oxandrolone was then picked up by another pharmaceutical company, and the drug was re-released under the brand name Oxandrin in 1995.

Oxandrin remains widely available today, and is currently used in medical practice to treat wasting syndrome in patients with HIV or AIDs. Despite the change in branding, Oxandrin is still widely referred to as Anavar (or ‘Var’) in the steroid world.

Compared to other anabolic-androgenic steroids, Anavar has very low androgenic activity, which means side effects are much less likely. It has moderate anabolic properties, which means the drug promotes slow, steady muscle growth. Because of these gradual results, it’s especially popular with women and people looking for a less aggressive steroid regime.

Although there is a reduced risk of side effects from Anavar, it can still have a serious impact on your health. Because it’s considered a milder steroid, people often up their dosage to compensate. Regular Anavar tablets are typically dosed between 10 mg and 50 mg, but those looking for serious muscle gains often take up to 100 mg a day. This can lead to some extremely dangerous side effects.

Here are the 5 worst side effects you need to know about Anavar:

1. Suppression of testosterone production

Anavar taken in the high doses required to build lean muscle can lead to the natural suppression of testosterone production. You may not feel like this is a problem while using the drug, but testosterone levels can take quite a bit of time to return to normal after you finish using Anavar. Remember, testosterone plays a vital role in muscle protein synthesis. Goodbye, hard-earned gains!

2. Liver damage

Some steroids, including Anavar, are C-17 alpha alkylated (C-17aa). This means that they have gone through a process that makes them resistant to breakdown in the liver, and as a result they can pass through the liver more than once. This isn’t good when you consider the amount of stress this can put the liver under.

3. Low cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes

Anavar can cause an unhealthy lowering of total cholesterol, and will often see an unfavorable shift in the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In short, the amount of the good stuff (HDL) goes down and the amount of the bad stuff (LDL) goes up. Too much LDL can cause clots, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

4. Unreliability and expense

The half-life of Anavar is poor. Studies have shown that about ten hours after taking the drug, blood concentrations could have fallen by as much as 75%. This means that the average person could probably do with two doses of Anavar a day to maintain the steady level needed for the body to change. We know that it’s C-17aa, so we already appreciate that even a single dose can be damaging to your liver. Doubling the dose certainly isn’t healthy – and, of course, two doses per day will also end up costing you double!

5. Infertility

During a cycle of Anavar, the body recognises that it has much more testosterone than usual. The end result of this is testicular atrophy (shrinking) and even, potentially, infertility. Enough said about, that I think.

Check also: Anavar Review – An interview with a real Anavar user >>

Keep on target for that summer body

Steroids are no joke, Anavar especially. Safer alternatives are a much better option both physiologically and financially. It’s easy to forget that to effectively end a period of steroid use you’ll need to run a bout of post-cycle therapy (PCT), which means using one or two more drugs. This can be pricey. Getting off on the right foot and using a safe, legal alternative such as Anvarol is the best way to keep on target for that summer body.

Anavar is popular due to its potency and its price, but who knows which side effects you might suffer from? You just won’t know until it’s too late, and then your health is already damaged. Stay smart and don’t take that risk!

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