What is "oxymetholone"

n. A synthetic anabolic steroid developed in 1960, used to treat osteoporosis and anaemia and to stimulate muscle growth in undernourished or underdeveloped patients.

Oxymetholone (brand names Anadrol, Anapolon, Androyd) is a synthetic anabolic steroid developed in 1960 by Zoltan 'Anadrol Z' F. Its primary clinical applications include treatment of osteoporosis and anaemia, as well as stimulating muscle growth in malnourished or underdeveloped patients. The drug was approved for human use by the FDA. Later, non- steroidal drugs such as epoetin alfa were developed and proven to be more effective as a treatment for anaemia and osteoporosis without the side effects of oxymetholone. The drug remained available despite this and eventually found a new use in treating HIV wasting syndrome. Presented most commonly as a 50 mg tablet, oxymetholone is one of the strongest androgenic steroids available. Similarly, there is a risk of side effects. Despite very low binding affinity with the androgen receptor, oxymetholone is highly effective in promoting extensive gains in body mass, mostly by greatly improving protein synthesis. For this reason, it is often used by bodybuilders and athletes.