What is Anavar?
Anavar is the brand name for an anabolic steroid called oxandrolone. It was originally developed in the 1960s to help promote weight gain in patients recovering from surgery, infections, or severe burns and is now also used to counteract muscle-wasting in HIV/AIDS.
Anavar (oxandrolone) is a man-made (synthetic) version of testosterone, which is the main male sex hormone in our bodies. Differences in the chemical make-up and structure between oxandrolone and testosterone cause slight differences in their effects, how they are taken, and side effects.
What are anabolic steroids?
You might see steroids also called anabolic-androgenic steroids, anabolic steroids, androgenic steroids, testosterone replacement therapy, roids, gear or juice.
Although steroids are not all exactly the same, they work in much the same way, whether it’s the natural form (testosterone) or synthetic version. We use the term steroids here because that’s what a lot of people are familiar with.
In Australia, steroids can be prescribed by a doctor for medical purposes like treating androgen deficiency (low testosterone) or as part of gender-affirming treatment or for other medical reasons. However, steroids can also be misused and abused so there are restrictions on prescribing and supply.
Side effects of Anavar
While Anavar (oxandrolone) is often marketed as a “safe” or “mild” steroid it has serious side effects, including serious liver injury (it was withdrawn from sale in the US in 2023 because of safety concerns). In adolescents, steroids can cause premature ageing and stunted growth.
We don’t have research on the specific side effects of Anavar abuse, but we know the side effects of anabolic steroid abuse. Abusing steroids can cause cardiovascular disease (increasing your risk of heart attack), liver damage, brain damage and infertility. The structure of oxandrolone makes it more likely than some other steroids to cause liver damage (in some cases, life-threatening). It also reduces “good” cholesterol and increases “bad” cholesterol, which can increase risk of heart and blood vessel disease.
Withdrawing from steroids can be incredibly tough. Not only will you lose some of the changes to your appearance and performance, but you’ll also experience symptoms of low testosterone. When taking steroids, you shut down your body’s production of testosterone. When you stop steroid abuse, it takes your body weeks to months to get back to making its own testosterone again.
Is Anavar legal in Australia?
In Australia, Anavar (oxandrolone) is a Schedule 4 prescription-only medicine, and is illegal to use without a prescription. Importing or selling it without proper authority is a criminal offence.
