Indications

Used in the treatment of catabolic or tissue-reducing processes, Oxandrolone is indicated in conditions such as chronic infections, major surgery, (corticoid-induced myopathies, bedsores, burns), or severe trauma, in which stopping is required. the effects of catabolic processes or protein loss.
It is important to remember that these types of substances are adjuvant in these cases and do not replace the conventional treatment of these disorders.

Also, it is used in the treatment of Turner Syndrome, to treat the short stature that occurs in these patients. Although therapy is still controversial, reports of recent experiments indicate that Oxandrolone may be effective as a growth hormone and may increase the effectiveness of growth hormone therapy.

Mechanism of Action and Pharmacokinetics

They reverse the catabolic processes and the negative nitrogen balance promoting protein synthesis and stimulating appetite if there is simultaneously a calorie and protein intake.
It is administered orally, as oxandrolone has a first half-life of 0.55 hours and another, 9 hours. It is eliminated by the kidneys and in small amounts in stool.

Posology

In adults, 2 to 4 weeks of therapy are usually adequate.
Doses in adults and adolescents, 2.5 mg two or four times a day.

The maximum dose is 20 mg per day.

The dose in children is 0.25 mg per day.

In cases of Turner syndrome, the dose is 0.05 to 0.125 mg / weight / day.

Generally, the patient should start and maintain the minimum effective dose to minimize adverse effects.

Contraindications

Anabolic steroids are often used in the treatment of symptoms associated with steoporosis. However, prolonged use is not recommended due to the questionable effects of these agents as the risk to serious adverse effects is not justified. The use of anabolic steroids in athletes is not recommended.

Adverse reactions

In women, virilism, acne, clitoral enlargement, hoarseness, menstrual irregularities, weight loss are seen. In prepubertal men acne, penis enlargement, increased frequency of erections, abnormal hair growth. In post-pubertal men, bladder irritability (frequent urination to urinate), chest pain, breast enlargement, frequent erections. Less frequently, anemias, iron deficiency, loss of appetite, edema, nausea, vomiting, unusual bleeding are seen. Hypercalcemia (depression, usual tiredness), rare darkening of the skin. In very adult men, prostate carcinoma or prostatic hypertrophy (difficulty or frequency to urinate) can be seen. Hepatic necrosis is rarely observed (blackish stools, headaches, blood vomiting, bad breath), liver cancer (stomach or abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss), liver peliosis (dark urine, loss of appetite, red spots on the skin , mouth, nose, throat, fever, nausea, vomiting).

Precautions and Warnings

For Oxandrolone, no mutagenesis studies have been performed in vitro or in animals. Studies in animals that have received 9 times the human dose have shown that Oxandrolone can cause embryotoxicity, fetotoxicity and infertility and an increase in masculinization, so it should not be used during pregnancy. Employment in children and adolescents should be done with caution due to the possible premature closure of the epiphysis. The medication should be discontinued if at 6 months no results are obtained.

Interactions

El uso de esteroide anabólico con adenocorticoides, glucocorticoides, medicamentos o alimentos que contienen sodio puede incrementar la posibilidad de edema.

La Oxandrolona empleada junto con anticoagulantes, puede aumentar el efecto anticoagulante.

Los esteroides anabólicos pueden disminuir la concentración de glucosa, los pacientes diabéticos deben ser monitoreados por posibles síntomas de hipoglicemia y debe ajustarse la dosis de los agentes hipoglucemiantes o insulina.

El uso simultáneo de los esteroides anabólicos con medicamentos hepatotóxicos, pueden aumentar la hepatotoxicidad, pacientes con enfermedades hepáticas deben ser monitoreados cuidadosamente.

Overdose

Overdose treatment is symptomatic and supportive. In case of overdose, it is treated with emesis and / or gastric lavage. Liver function should be monitored, because hepatotoxicity is a serious possible adverse effect.