Medications similar to oxandrolone may have caused damage to the liver or spleen (a small organ just below the ribs) and tumors in the liver. Tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol or used street drugs and if you have or have ever had liver disease. Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medications or herbal products: acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), cholesterol lowering medications (statins), comfrey tea, iron products, isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid), kava, methotrexate (Rheumatrex), niacin (nicotinic acid), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane). If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: upset stomach; extreme tiredness; unusual bruising or bleeding; lack of energy; loss of appetite; pain in the upper right part of the stomach; yellowing of the skin or eyes; flu-like symptoms; pale, cool, or clammy skin; extreme thirst; fast but weak pulse; vomiting; or fast shallow breathing.
Oxandrolone may increase the amount of low density lipoprotein (LDL; 'bad cholesterol') and decrease the amount of high density lipoprotein (HDL; 'good cholesterol') in your blood. This may increase your risk of developing heart disease. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had high cholesterol, heart disease, a heart attack, chest pain, or a stroke. Also tell your doctor if you smoke or have ever smoked and if you have high blood pressure or diabetes.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests to check your body's response to oxandrolone. Oxandrolone may damage the liver or increase LDL without causing symptoms. It is important to have regular laboratory tests to be sure that the liver is working properly and that LDL has not increased.
Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking oxandrolone.
Oxandrolone is used with a diet and exercise program to cause weight gain in patients who have lost too much weight due to surgery, injury, or long lasting infections, or who are very underweight for unknown reasons. Oxandrolone is also used to treat bone pain in patients with osteoporosis (a condition in which the bones become thin and weak and break easily) and to prevent certain side effects in patients who take corticosteroids (a group of medications used to treat many conditions that involve inflammation or swelling of part of the body for a long time. Oxandrolone is in a class of medications called anabolic steroids. It works by increasing the amount of protein made by the body. This protein is used to build more muscle and increase body weight.
Oxandrolone comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken two to four times a day. To help you remember to take oxandrolone, take it around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take oxandrolone exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will probably tell you to take oxandralone for 2-4 weeks. You may need to take oxandralone for additional 2-4 week periods if your weight decreases again.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
depression
nervousness or unusual excitement
changes in sex drive or ability
constipation
swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
new or worsening acne
deepening of voice, increase in facial hair, baldness, and changes in genital structures in women
abnormal menstrual periods
enlarged penis or erections that come too often or do not go away
pain, swelling, or decreased size of testes
enlarged breasts
frequent, difficult, or painful urination
bone pain
slowed heartbeat
pain on your side (between your stomach and back)
confusion
extreme thirst
muscle twitches or weakness
tingling in arms or legs
weakness or heaviness in legs
changes in skin color
Oxandrolone may prevent normal growth in children. Children who take oxandrolone may be shorter as adults then they would have been if they had not taken the medication. Oxandrolone is more likely to interfere with the growth of younger children than older children. Your child's doctor will take x-rays regularly to be sure your child is growing normally. Talk to your child's doctor about the risks of giving this medication to your child.
Oxandrolone may decrease fertility in men. Talk to your doctor if your partner plans to become pregnant while you are taking oxandrolone.
Oxandrolone may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
swelling of the arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
Before having any laboratory test, tell your doctor and the laboratory personnel that you are taking oxandrolone. Oxandrolone may affect the results of certain laboratory tests.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Oxandrolone has not been shown to improve athletic ability. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Reviewed - 09/01/2010
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.