Last Updated on November 24, 2025
What Is Anavar and How Do People Use It?
Anavar is a synthetic form of testosterone. As an anabolic steroid, it increases protein synthesis, muscle growth, and strength. Its relatively low androgenic activity means fewer short-term masculinizing effects compared with some other steroids. For years it was prescribed to help people regain weight after burns, chronic infections, or surgery.
Over time, non-medical use of this anavar steroid expanded into bodybuilding, powerlifting, and aesthetic fitness communities. People may take it alone or stack it with other anabolic steroids. Many assume it is safer because it causes less water retention and less dramatic weight gain. Our detailed overview of Anavar and its medical history explains how it moved from a prescription drug into widespread performance use.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration later determined that oxandrolone tablets were withdrawn from sale for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Federal reviews highlight serious liver and cardiovascular risks in the official product labeling.Federal Register notice from the FDA
Medical vs. non-medical use
In a medical setting, oxandrolone was prescribed at carefully monitored doses for limited periods. Even then, clinicians were advised to track liver function, cholesterol, and signs of virilization or growth disruption in children.
Non-medical use looks very different. People may run repeated Anavar cycles for appearance or performance, sometimes at higher doses than were used in studies. They might also combine it with other steroids, stimulant drugs, or alcohol. These patterns greatly increase the risk of long-term oxandrolone side effects.
Typical Anavar cycle effects
People using Anavar for physique or performance often talk about “cutting cycles” that last several weeks. During a cycle, they may notice increased strength, harder-looking muscles, and reduced body fat. These short-term anavar cycle effects can feel rewarding. That boost can lead people to repeat cycles or stay on the drug far longer than planned.
Each cycle adds stress to the liver, cardiovascular system, and endocrine system. Over months or years, that stress can lead to permanent complications, even if no single cycle seemed extreme at the time.
Physical Long-Term Effects of Anavar
The long-term effects of Anavar are not limited to one organ. Because oxandrolone acts on hormone receptors throughout the body, its impact can involve the liver, heart, blood vessels, reproductive system, bones, kidneys, and skin.
Liver damage and tumors
Like many oral anabolic steroids, Anavar is chemically modified so it can survive digestion and enter the bloodstream. That same modification makes it hard on the liver. Long-term or high-dose use increases the risk of cholestatic jaundice, chronic liver inflammation, and peliosis hepatis, a rare condition where blood-filled cysts form inside the liver. Product labeling and federal safety reviews describe cases of liver cell tumors, some of which did not improve even after the drug was stopped.FDA prescribing information for oxandrolone
These complications often develop quietly. Mild fatigue, nausea, or pain in the upper right abdomen may be the first clues that something is wrong. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin and eyes, is an emergency warning sign that requires immediate medical care.
Heart, blood vessels, and cholesterol
Anavar can change the balance of blood lipids. It often lowers protective HDL (“good”) cholesterol and raises LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Over time, this pattern promotes atherosclerosis, the buildup of fatty plaques in arteries. Research on anabolic steroids shows higher rates of high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, and dangerous heart rhythm problems, even in relatively young users.National Institute on Drug Abuse information on anabolic steroids
These cardiovascular risks do not disappear the moment someone stops taking Anavar. Years of cycles can leave behind a lasting vulnerability to heart disease. The risk rises even more when steroid use is combined with smoking, stimulant use, heavy drinking, or a strong family history of cardiac problems.
Hormonal suppression and reproductive harm
Because Anavar is a synthetic androgen, the body responds by lowering natural testosterone production. With repeated or prolonged use, this suppression can become long-lasting. People may notice low energy, depressed mood, erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and testicular shrinkage. In men, chronic use can reduce sperm count and contribute to infertility.
Women face a different pattern of anavar side effects. Elevated androgen levels can cause irregular or absent menstrual periods, reduced fertility, and virilization. Common signs include a deepened voice, facial hair growth, clitoral enlargement, and male-pattern hair loss. Some of these changes, especially voice and clitoral enlargement, may not fully reverse after the drug is stopped.
Patient information materials also warn that oxandrolone may impair fertility and interfere with normal growth in children and adolescents. These warnings highlight the drug’s powerful impact on the endocrine system.MedlinePlus drug information on oxandrolone
Bone, muscle, and metabolic effects
In growing adolescents, Anavar can speed up the closure of growth plates in long bones. That process may stop height gain early and leave the person permanently shorter than their genetic potential. While the drug can temporarily increase strength and lean mass, repeated cycles can weaken connective tissue and increase the risk of tendon injuries or joint pain.
On the metabolic side, oxandrolone can cause fluid and salt retention, worsen existing kidney disease, and reduce the body’s ability to handle glucose. Long-term users sometimes notice new high blood pressure, swelling in the lower legs, or trouble managing blood sugar. These problems often appear sooner in people who already have metabolic risk factors.
Skin and hair changes
Persistent acne, oily skin, and accelerated balding are common oxandrolone side effects. In some cases, scarring acne and androgen-driven hair loss continue even after steroid use stops. Darkened skin patches and stretch marks may also appear after rapid changes in weight and muscle size.
Long-Term Psychological and Behavioral Effects
The long-term effects of Anavar also involve mental health. Anabolic steroids can influence brain chemistry, mood, and impulse control. Changes in how a person views their body or performance may grow stronger with each cycle.
Mood swings, aggression, and depression
Studies of anabolic steroid users describe episodes of irritability, anger, and aggression sometimes called “roid rage.” People may feel more confident, energized, or driven while on-cycle. Between cycles, they can become anxious, depressed, or very tired. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports links between steroid misuse and higher risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health conditions.National Institute on Drug Abuse information on anabolic steroids
Over time, some users come to rely on Anavar to feel “normal” or to manage body image concerns. When they try to stop, they may experience intense cravings, low self-esteem, insomnia, and loss of motivation. These symptoms can pull them back into another cycle and make it harder to quit without support.
Dependence, withdrawal, and co-occurring substance use
Medical literature describes an anabolic steroid use disorder in which people continue taking drugs like Anavar despite clear harm. Dependence can include tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, and preoccupation with obtaining or using the drug. People may spend large amounts of time and money chasing steroid cycles and protecting their supply.
Withdrawal from long-term Anavar use may involve fatigue, depressed mood, sleep disruption, and loss of appetite. Some individuals also turn to alcohol, opioids, stimulants, or benzodiazepines to cope with discomfort or mood changes. This pattern increases the overall risk of addiction and overdose.
Because these patterns are complex, effective treatment rarely focuses on the steroid alone. Comprehensive care addresses steroid misuse, co-occurring substance use, and any underlying mental health conditions.
Who Is Most at Risk from Anavar’s Long-Term Effects?
Anyone who uses Anavar outside careful medical supervision is at risk, but some groups face particular dangers. Understanding these risk factors can help families and clinicians spot problems earlier and encourage timely treatment.
Adolescents and young adults
Teens and young adults sometimes turn to Anavar to change their appearance, boost sports performance, or cope with bullying and low self-esteem. Their bodies and brains are still developing, so hormonal disruption can be especially harmful. Long-term use at this age raises the risk of stunted growth, infertility, and early cardiovascular disease.
Women and people assigned female at birth
Because Anavar has relatively low androgenic activity, it is often promoted online as a “female-friendly” steroid. In reality, women may experience irreversible virilization at much lower doses than men. Voice deepening, facial hair, and shifts in body shape can cause significant distress. These changes may persist even after the person stops using the drug.
People with existing medical or mental health conditions
Individuals with liver disease, heart disease, kidney problems, diabetes, or high blood pressure are especially vulnerable to the long-term effects of anavar. Those with depression, anxiety, trauma histories, or body dysmorphic disorder are more likely to develop dependence and to experience severe mood symptoms during and after cycles. For these groups, even a short period of steroid misuse can carry outsized risks.
Is Any Amount of Anavar Safe Long-Term?
Some users believe that keeping doses “moderate” or running only a few cycles each year eliminates risk. That belief does not match what we know from medical research and regulatory decisions.
Even at therapeutic doses, official labeling for oxandrolone notes the risk of liver tumors, serious lipid changes, and reproductive harm with long-term use. Regulatory agencies eventually concluded that, without strong evidence of benefit, these risks made the drug unsuitable for continued marketing.Federal Register notice from the FDA
For people using Anavar without medical oversight, doses are often higher and monitoring is rare. Repeated “short” cycles still add up to years of exposure. Damage can build slowly and show up later as chronic fatigue, infertility, or heart disease. From a health perspective, there is no truly safe long-term pattern of non-prescribed Anavar use.
Recognizing Anavar Side Effects and When to Seek Help
Because Anavar side effects can develop gradually, it helps to know what to watch for. Early recognition may allow some complications to be treated or reversed before they become permanent.
- Persistent fatigue, low mood, or loss of motivation between cycles
- Changes in sexual function, libido, or menstrual cycles
- New or worsening acne, rapid hair loss, or facial hair growth in women
- Swelling in the legs, sudden weight gain, or shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain, dark urine, pale stools, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Chest pain, severe headache, or sudden weakness or numbness
Anyone experiencing jaundice, chest pain, trouble breathing, or stroke-like symptoms should seek emergency care immediately. For non-emergency concerns, such as changes in mood, libido, or menstrual cycles, scheduling a medical evaluation is still important. A clinician can order labs to check liver function, cholesterol, hormone levels, and other markers affected by anavar steroid use.
If you recognize these signs in yourself or a loved one, you may also want to review our companion guide on Anavar side effects and recovery support, which explores additional warning signs and practical next steps.
Treatment Options for Long-Term Anavar Misuse
Stopping Anavar after long-term use can feel intimidating. People often worry about losing hard-earned gains, facing withdrawal, or uncovering health problems they have tried to ignore. With the right support, however, recovery is realistic and achievable.
Medical assessment and detoxification
The first step is a complete medical evaluation. Clinicians may assess liver function, kidney function, hormone levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol. They will also ask about other substances you are using and screen for depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.
Some individuals may need supervised detox or a gradual taper to manage withdrawal symptoms and monitor medical complications. A structured residential inpatient rehab program in Austin can provide 24/7 support during this period, along with coordinated medical and psychiatric care.
If detox or outpatient care is not enough, some people benefit from a more stable, retreat-like environment. Our Wimberley inpatient treatment center offers a peaceful, structured setting for individuals recovering from long-term steroid misuse and other substance use disorders.
Counseling, education, and long-term recovery support
After the acute withdrawal phase, treatment focuses on building a sustainable, steroid-free lifestyle. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and other evidence-based approaches help people examine their beliefs about strength, appearance, and control. Group therapy and peer support offer a safe space to talk about shame, secrecy, and the pressures that fueled steroid use.
Many people who misuse Anavar also struggle with other substances or mental health conditions. Effective treatment plans may include medication management, family therapy, and continuing care. At Nova Recovery Center, these services are part of a broad continuum of care that spans detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient services, and sober living.
Planning for relapse prevention
Recovery from long-term Anavar use is not just about stopping the drug. It also involves reshaping routines, identity, and coping skills. Ongoing support groups, regular medical follow-up, and structured aftercare help people navigate triggers such as gym culture, social media pressure, or competitive sports.
If you or someone you love is ready to talk about stopping Anavar or other anabolic steroids, reaching out for professional support can be a powerful first step toward lasting change.
