Short answer: Oxymetholone (Anadrol-50) is an oral anabolic steroid approved for anemias caused by the bone marrow not making enough red blood cells. It is a Schedule III controlled substance. It carries boxed warnings for liver tumors, blood-filled liver cysts, and harmful cholesterol changes, and is misused in bodybuilding.
Key takeaways
- What it is: Oxymetholone is an oral anabolic-androgenic steroid and a Schedule III controlled substance in the US.
- Main uses: Anemias caused by deficient red cell production.
- Timing: effects start in weeks to months (for anemia) and last daily dosing.
- Most dangerous mix: Alcohol and acetaminophen in high doses, which can cause more liver damage (oral steroids).
- Naloxone: it does not reverse this drug, but give it whenever opioids could be involved.
- Dependence risk: Moderate.
- Legal route: only with a prescription from a DEA-registered clinician, filled by a licensed pharmacy.
What is oxymetholone?
Oxymetholone stimulates red blood cell production and is approved for certain anemias, such as aplastic anemia, when the bone marrow does not make enough red cells. Newer treatments have largely replaced it.
Quick facts
| Fact | Oxymetholone |
|---|---|
| Generic name | Oxymetholone |
| Brand names | Anadrol-50 |
| Drug class | Oral 17-alpha-alkylated anabolic-androgenic steroid |
| US legal status | Schedule III, prescription only |
| Approved uses | Anemias from deficient red cell production: aplastic anemia, myelofibrosis, hypoplastic anemias from toxic drugs |
| Forms | 50 mg tablets |
| Time to response | Often 3 to 6 months for anemia |
How long does oxymetholone last?
- Starts working: Weeks to months (for anemia)
- Effects last: Daily dosing
Often 3 to 6 months.
Timing varies with the dose, the form, how it is taken, liver and kidney function, age, and other drugs taken at the same time.
What are the biggest risks of oxymetholone?
The FDA requires boxed warnings, its strongest, on oxymetholone products, including:
- Peliosis hepatis, blood-filled cysts in the liver, sometimes fatal, has occurred with anabolic steroids.
- Liver cell tumors, sometimes malignant, have been reported with long-term use.
- Blood lipid changes that raise the risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
Common side effects include acne, fluid retention, nausea, and, in women, masculinizing changes.
Misuse: bodybuilders use it for rapid gains in size and strength, often at doses far above medical ones, with the risks above.
What should you never mix with oxymetholone?
| Combined with | What happens | Label guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Warfarin and other blood thinners | Increased bleeding risk | Monitor closely |
| Insulin and diabetes medicines | Lower blood sugar | Monitor |
| Other steroids and stimulants | Heart and liver strain | High risk |
| Alcohol and acetaminophen in high doses | More liver damage (oral steroids) | Avoid |
Check any combination with the DoseUses combination checker or ask a pharmacist.
What are the signs of an oxymetholone overdose, and what should you do?
Oxymetholone does not usually cause acute overdose. Harms build over time: seek emergency care for chest pain, signs of stroke, yellowing skin or eyes, severe abdominal pain, or thoughts of self-harm.
When to get emergency help
- Call 911 for chest pain, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness on one side, trouble speaking, or a severe headache.
- Seek urgent care for yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, severe abdominal pain, or a painful, swollen leg.
- Seek care for a hot, painful, or swollen injection site, which may be an infection.
- If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.
What happens when someone stops anabolic steroids?
After a cycle, the body's own testosterone production is suppressed and can take weeks to months to recover. Many users develop dependence on steroids.
- Weeks 1 to 4Low testosteroneFatigue, low sex drive, erectile problems, and low mood.
- Months 1 to 3RecoveryDepression, which can be severe, and muscle loss; hormone levels slowly recover.
- Months to a year or moreLasting effectsSome people have long-term low testosterone or infertility.
See the withdrawal timelines and the full oxymetholone withdrawal guide.
Is oxymetholone legal?
In the United States, oxymetholone is a Schedule III controlled substance. The only legal way to get it is with a prescription from a clinician registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), filled by a licensed pharmacy. Depending on state law, that can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant.
- Refills: a Schedule III prescription can be refilled up to five times within six months of the date it was written. After that, a new prescription is needed.
- Telehealth: federal flexibilities let DEA-registered clinicians prescribe Schedule II to V medicines after a telemedicine visit, without a prior in-person exam, through December 31, 2026. A permanent DEA rule was under final review in late 2026. State rules can be stricter.
- Monitoring: prescribers and pharmacists in most states check a prescription drug monitoring program, a database of controlled-substance prescriptions, before prescribing or dispensing.
Outside the United States
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Class C; possession for personal use is not an offence, but supply is |
| Canada | Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act |
| Australia | Schedule 4 prescription medicine; import controls apply |
| International | Not under UN control; banned in sport by WADA |
Frequently asked questions about oxymetholone
What is Anadrol used for?
Certain anemias where the bone marrow does not make enough red blood cells.
Is Anadrol a steroid?
Yes, an oral anabolic-androgenic steroid, Schedule III.
Is oxymetholone bad for the liver?
It carries boxed warnings for liver cysts and tumors.
Why do bodybuilders use Anadrol?
For quick gains in size and strength; non-medical use is illegal and risky.
How long does Anadrol take to work for anemia?
Often 3 to 6 months.
Sources
- Anadrol-50 (oxymetholone) prescription information, DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine.
- Anabolic Steroids, MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine.
- Anabolic Steroids, National Institute on Drug Abuse.
- Controlled Substance Schedules, DEA Diversion Control Division.
- 21 CFR 1306.22, Refilling of prescriptions (Schedules III and IV), Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Prescribing controlled substances via telehealth, US Department of Health and Human Services.
- BeSafeRx: Your Source for Online Pharmacy Information, US Food and Drug Administration.
- Safe Pharmacy, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
This guide summarizes the sourced DoseUses Oxymetholone profile, written from FDA labels, DEA rules, and federal health agencies. It is educational and is not medical advice. Last updated October 5, 2026.
