Some TRT clinics occasionally utilize other AAS's as an adjunct or compliment to TRT. Most commonly this is done with oxandrolone or nandrolone, for specific goals.
With regard to oxandrolone, while highly efficacious for improving anabolism (LBM, strength, and dry muscle hypertrophy, with low androgenicity), there are concerns regarding side effects. The most significant side effects of oxandrolone are related to it's effects on LFT's (mainly liver enzymes such as ALT and AST, with ALT being more specific to liver vs. muscle), and plasma lipids (most notable marked reductions in HDL). The significance of these lab changes are somewhat uncertain. With regard to LFTs, the typical effect is transient and relatively low level elevations of ALT and AST transaminases, which generally return to normal within a short period of time after discontinuing oxandrolone. It is rarely reported to cause serious or permanent liver injury so long as it is utilized in moderate dosage for a relatively short duration (eg. 20 mg daily for 6-12 wks). With regard to HDL-cholesterol, while the impact is strong, the importance of the drop in HDL-C is similarly unclear. A short term drop in HDL over 6-12 wks with gradual but relatively prompt normalization afterward would not be expected to have significant health effects given the very long natural history of atherosclerosis, measured in decades. Moreover, low HDL ("good cholesterol") as a sole marker is no longer thought to be directly pathogenic or causative for ASCVD. Effective pharmaceuticals that have increased HDL have not show benefit in clinical trials and have been dropped by big pharma. Rather HDL is thought to be a confounding marker of another aspect of lipid metabolism, and may not have similar associations when caused secondarily by a separate intervention, such as anabolic administration.
Finally, most of the published data is confounded by high dose abuse over long periods, or comorbid serious medical conditions such as AIDS, severe burns, and other diagnoses for which the oxandrolone was being given.
With this as a background, I am curious as to the experience of forum members. Many members of the forum have undoubtedly been prescribed oxandrolone as a complement to their TRT.
What dose were you prescribed and for how long?
Did you monitor your LFT's and Lipid panel? If so what were the results?
Documenting personal experiences in this setting would help many other members.
With regard to oxandrolone, while highly efficacious for improving anabolism (LBM, strength, and dry muscle hypertrophy, with low androgenicity), there are concerns regarding side effects. The most significant side effects of oxandrolone are related to it's effects on LFT's (mainly liver enzymes such as ALT and AST, with ALT being more specific to liver vs. muscle), and plasma lipids (most notable marked reductions in HDL). The significance of these lab changes are somewhat uncertain. With regard to LFTs, the typical effect is transient and relatively low level elevations of ALT and AST transaminases, which generally return to normal within a short period of time after discontinuing oxandrolone. It is rarely reported to cause serious or permanent liver injury so long as it is utilized in moderate dosage for a relatively short duration (eg. 20 mg daily for 6-12 wks). With regard to HDL-cholesterol, while the impact is strong, the importance of the drop in HDL-C is similarly unclear. A short term drop in HDL over 6-12 wks with gradual but relatively prompt normalization afterward would not be expected to have significant health effects given the very long natural history of atherosclerosis, measured in decades. Moreover, low HDL ("good cholesterol") as a sole marker is no longer thought to be directly pathogenic or causative for ASCVD. Effective pharmaceuticals that have increased HDL have not show benefit in clinical trials and have been dropped by big pharma. Rather HDL is thought to be a confounding marker of another aspect of lipid metabolism, and may not have similar associations when caused secondarily by a separate intervention, such as anabolic administration.
Finally, most of the published data is confounded by high dose abuse over long periods, or comorbid serious medical conditions such as AIDS, severe burns, and other diagnoses for which the oxandrolone was being given.
With this as a background, I am curious as to the experience of forum members. Many members of the forum have undoubtedly been prescribed oxandrolone as a complement to their TRT.
What dose were you prescribed and for how long?
Did you monitor your LFT's and Lipid panel? If so what were the results?
Documenting personal experiences in this setting would help many other members.
