Anadrol-50 Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Anadrol-50 Tablet contains oxymetholone, an anabolic steroid used to treat certain types of anemia caused by the body not making enough red blood cells. It works by raising erythropoietin levels and directly supporting red blood cell production in people with reduced bone marrow function. It may cause side effects such as nausea, insomnia, and acne, along with more serious risks involving the liver and hormonal changes. This medicine must be used exactly as prescribed, with tablets swallowed whole with water.

What is Anadrol-50 Tablet

Anadrol-50 is an anabolic steroid tablet containing oxymetholone. It is used to treat certain types of anemia caused by the body not making enough red blood cells.

Anadrol-50 Tablet uses

• Treatment of anemias caused by deficient red cell production
• Acquired aplastic anemia
• Congenital aplastic anemia
• Myelofibrosis
• Hypoplastic anemias caused by myelotoxic drugs (such as chemotherapy)

Benefits of Anadrol-50 Tablet

• May increase red blood cell production in certain bone marrow disorders
• May improve hemoglobin levels in responsive patients
• May help reduce symptoms related to some forms of anemia
• May reduce the need for supportive treatment in selected patients

How Anadrol-50 Tablet works

Anadrol-50 is a man-made form of testosterone. It increases a hormone called erythropoietin, which helps the body make red blood cells, and it directly helps red blood cell production in people whose bone marrow isn't working well.

Anadrol-50 Tablet dosage

This medicine should not be used in place of other treatments your doctor has recommended, such as blood transfusions or correcting vitamin deficiencies. Tablets should be swallowed whole with water, without chewing or crushing, to keep the medicine working properly. It may take three to six months of treatment before you see a response. After your condition improves, your doctor may stop the medicine or keep you on a lower maintenance dose.

Use exactly as prescribed by your doctor or pharmacist.

Available forms and strengths

• Tablet

Side effects of Anadrol-50 Tablet

Common

• Diarrhea
• Nausea, vomiting
• Excitation, restlessness
• Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
• Breast swelling or tenderness (in men or women)
• Acne
• Male pattern baldness

Serious

• Mental or mood changes
• Swelling of the ankles or feet, unusual or rapid weight gain
• Trouble breathing, shortness of breath even with mild exertion
• Decreased or increased interest in sex
• New or worsening acne
• Signs of liver problems: upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
• Painful or difficult urination
• Painful or ongoing erection of the penis
• Loss of interest in sex, impotence, trouble having an orgasm, decreased semen amount
• Easy bruising or bleeding, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or bleeding that won't stop
• Painful swelling in the breasts
• Changes in skin color
• Signs of virilization in women: hoarse or deepened voice, increased facial or body hair, male pattern baldness, enlarged clitoris, changes in menstrual periods

Warnings and precautions

• This medicine must not be used during pregnancy because it can seriously harm an unborn baby. Women who can become pregnant should use birth control while taking it.
• It isn't known if this medicine passes into breast milk, but because it could seriously harm a nursing baby, breastfeeding is not recommended while taking it.
• This medicine should not be used by people with nephrosis or the nephrotic phase of nephritis (serious kidney disease).
• This medicine should not be used by people with severe liver problems, and it can cause liver damage, tumors, or blood-filled cysts in the liver with long-term use. Regular liver function tests are recommended.
• Long-term use can cause a condition where the liver (and sometimes the spleen) develops blood-filled cysts, which can be life-threatening and may not be noticed until serious liver failure or internal bleeding occurs.
• Liver tumors have been reported with this type of medicine. Most are benign, but some fatal malignant tumors have occurred, and these tumors can bleed internally without warning.
• This medicine can cause unhealthy changes in blood fats that raise the risk of hardened arteries and heart disease.
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) can occur, and if treatment continues despite this, it can lead to liver failure, coma, and death.
• Swelling, sometimes with heart failure, can be a serious problem in people who already have heart, kidney, or liver disease.
• Older men taking this medicine may have a higher chance of developing an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.
• This medicine must not be used by men with prostate or breast cancer, or by women with breast cancer along with high calcium levels, since it can worsen these conditions.
• In children, this medicine can speed up bone growth plate closure faster than height growth, which may result in a shorter adult height; doctors monitor this with X-rays.
• Taking this medicine with blood thinners like warfarin can increase the risk of serious bleeding, so close monitoring is needed.
• This medicine is a controlled substance because of its potential for misuse and dependence.

Storage

• Store at controlled room temperature 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F)
• Keep out of reach of children
• Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container

When to see a doctor

• Get emergency help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or rapid weight gain, especially in your face or midsection.
• Call your doctor right away if you have painful or difficult urination, ongoing or painful erections, loss of interest in sex, easy bruising or bleeding that won't stop, painful breast swelling, changes in skin color, or shortness of breath with swelling in your hands or feet.
• If you are a woman and notice a hoarse or deepened voice, increased facial or body hair, male pattern baldness, enlarged clitoris, or changes in your periods, tell your doctor right away since some of these changes may not go away.
• Tell your doctor right away if you are using warfarin or notice any unusual bleeding.

Alternatives

• Epoetin alfa
• Danazol
• Oxandrolone