Oxandrolone and HGH prevent HIV to improve performance

Chronic wasting syndrome, defined by a significant and unintentional weight loss, can occur in people with HIV/AIDS. There are many reasons why it happens including reactions to medications, lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and oral sores that make gaining or maintaining weight difficult. Whatever the cause, however, it's vitally important to help reverse the effects for the life of the patient.

People who suffer from chronic wasting often experience an increased progression of the infection and often a decrease in quality of life. Wasting is a form of malnutrition and it leaves the body more susceptible to the effects of the HIV/AIDS, infections and other complications because is can weaken the immune system. If left untreated it can often lead to a quicker death.

Often the first steps used to help reverse or at least stop the loss of lean body mass include nutritional programs, appetite stimulants and exercise programs. The problem is that they don't always work for HIV/AIDS patients. That's when HIV/AIDS patients and their physicians can turn to anabolic steroids for help.

Oxandrolone has been approved by the FDA to help counteract chronic wasting caused by other illnesses, so it's a logical leap to use it for AIDS-related chronic wasting as well. Right now, it's not a mainstream treatment because studies have shown that the most effective dosages for AIDS-related chronic wasting are higher than the FDA approved dosages, but it is beginning to show great benefits to its users.

Here's how anabolic steroids do the job needed to counteract the effects of wasting: One of the natural effects of anabolic steroids is its promotion of cell growth and tissues. People suffering from chronic wasting experience substantial loss of body tissues including both muscle and fat. When used properly, anabolic steroids can help increase the re-growth of muscle tissues and therefore, an overall increase in lean body mass.

Another effect of HIV/AIDS which is related to chronic wasting is lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy is not necessarily a loss of weight, but rather a redistribution of fat in the body. Often what happens is that fat gathers at the back of the neck and around the abdomen and fat is often lost in the face, arms and legs. It can also lead to diabetes, hypertriglyceridemia and liver problems.

Anabolic steroids do not directly treat lipodystrophy. In fact, there aren't many treatment options for it. Steroids do, however, tend to help with the physical effects by reducing the fatty deposits caused by lipodystrophy.

Growth hormone therapy in adults:
The syndrome of adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is characterized by abnormal fat and muscle mass composition, dyslipidemia, decreased bone mineral density, exercise capacity, and quality of life. AGHD can be a continuation of childhood GHD or result from hypothalamic or pituitary damage. An increase in mortality is seen in these patients attributed to cardiovascular risk factors. It is unclear if these risk factors are exclusively due to GHD or a result of reduced quality of life and sedentary lifestyle. Daily HGH injections to treat AGHD are associated with improvements in body composition, muscle strength, bone density, cardiovascular markers, and quality of life. Fluid retention is an adverse effect of GH therapy in adults and may cause symptoms of edema, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthralgias, and myalgias. Glucose intolerance and possibly Type 2 DM may also develop during treatment.

HIV-associated wasting is linked to alterations in the GH-IGF-1 axis and can be improved with GH treatment. HIV wasting is defined as unintentional loss of body weight and lean body mass in patients infected with HIV. Other treatments for HIV-associated wasting include testosterone and anabolic steroids which increase fat mass but not lean body mass. Increases in lean body mass correlate with improved survival. Clinical trials have shown improvements in weight, lean body mass, and decreases in fat mass when patients are treated for 12 weeks with HGH.

HGH is often abused in combination with anabolic steroids to increase muscle strength and athletic performance. The illicit use of androgen's is seen not only in athletes, but is now being used by a significant number of adults between the ages of 35 and 60 to get rid of love handles and build muscle as they try to stay young, as prescriptions for human growth hormone have become more frequent from "anti-aging" clinics. Adolescent boys feeling pressure from society to increase muscle mass and do better at sports are also increasing their use, and competitive athletes who might be tested for steroid use often turn to HGH to improve performance.

Use of Anabolic Steroids in Patients Who Have HIV/AIDS

Of the 3 orally active anabolic steroids, Oxandrolone has been studied in HIV-infected patients more extensively than has Oxymetholone. Stanozolol is used for the treatment of hereditary angioedema and has not been used for its anabolic effect in this patient population to any great extent. Use of the steroid oxandrolone is associated with significant gains in weight and body cell mass in HIV-positive men who had experienced HIV-related wasting, according to an American study published in the March edition of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. However, although the steroid increased muscle mass, it did not improve endurance and caused side-effects, including an increase in levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and elevations in liver enzymes. Unintentional loss of just 3% of body weight has been associated with poorer survival in HIV-positive individuals. Although the use of antiretroviral therapy has led to a significant decrease in the prevalence of unintended weight loss, it is still common, even amongst people taking HIV treatment.

One of the earlier studies of Oxandrolone in HIV-infected patients was begun before the introduction of the PIs. Sixty-three HIV-infected men with a loss of body weight greater than 10% were randomized to receive placebo; Oxandrolone, 5 mg/d or Oxandrolone, 15 mg/d. The patients who received 15 mg/d of oxandrolone gained weight throughout the 16-week period, whereas those who received 5 mg/d of Oxandrolone maintained their weight. In contrast, the patients who received placebo continued to lose weight.

In a follow-up study, which has not yet been published, patients were randomized to placebo or to 1 of 3 dosages of Oxandrolone - 20 mg/d, 40 mg/d or 80 mg/d (C. Grunfeld, unpublished data, 1998). The patients in the group who received 40 mg/d had the most statistically significant weight gain. However, both the patients in this group and those who received 80 mg/d showed significant increases in serum levels of liver transaminases.

A study published in 1999 sought to determine whether a regimen of supra physiologic doses of androgen (testosterone) plus an anabolic steroid (Oxandrolone) would improve the LBM and strength gains achieved with progressive resistance exercise in HIV-infected men who had experienced weight loss. A second objective of the study was to determine whether antiretroviral therapy with a PI prevented lean body anabolism.

All subjects in the study participated in supervised progressive resistance exercise for 8 weeks. At the same time, they received testosterone, 100 mg/wk, by intramuscular injection. Twenty-four eugonadal men were then randomized to either placebo or Oxandrolone, 20 mg/d. Twenty-two patients completed the study. The results indicated that compared with patients who received placebo, those who received Oxandrolone experienced improved nitrogen balance (P = .05); increased LBM (P = .005); and increased muscle strength, as judged by either maximum weight lifted (P = .02 to .05) or dynamometry (P = .01 to .05). The results were similar regardless of whether the patients were taking a PI. However, compared with placebo, Oxandrolone was associated with a statistically significant decrease in blood levels of high-den-sity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < .001).

Because all patients in the study participated in progressive resistance training and received testosterone, only an additive effect of Oxandrolone versus placebo was being determined. Therefore, the study appears to be valid even though the number of patients enrolled was small. On the other hand, had the design of the study called for dividing the patients into multiple groups, so that not all patients received testosterone or participated in progressive resistance exercise, the number of patients required to reach statistical significance would have been much higher.

The conclusions that can be drawn from the study are that Oxandrolone  20 mg/d, added to a program consisting of both progressive resistance exercise and physiologic doses of testosterone improved the anabolic and functional responses in patients who showed HIV-related weight loss.

Only 1 study of Oxymetholone in HIV-infected patients has been reported. This study was a nonblinded pilot trial that was completed in Germany and reported in 1996. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either Oxymetholone (14 patients) or Oxymetholone plus ketotifen (16 patients). Ketotifen is an H1-receptor antagonist (ie, antihista- mine) that has been shown to block tumor necrosis factor a. The patients receiving the medications under study were compared with 30 matched control patients who met the same inclusion criteria, such as advanced HIV infection and chronic cachexia. On completion of the twelve-week double-blind phase of the study, all the patients were offered the option of remaining on the study for a further twelve weeks and receiving an open label 20mg Oxandrolone dose a day. By the end of this period, there were no differences in weight between patients and liver function ceased to be significantly different from baseline.

Although the investigators note that treatment with the steroid was generally “well tolerated” they note that over 5% of patients had moderate or severe increases in levels of liver enzymes and that “LDL levels decreased and HDL levels increased.”

Anavar to treat severe weight loss

Anabolic steroids can be used to help patients regain weight after surgery, or to treat chronic infection or trauma. The drug has also been used by the bodybuilding community to increase muscle mass and decrease visceral fat. These steroids are thought to work in the body like artificial testosterone.

Potential mild side effects associated with taking Oxandrolone may include nausea, vomiting, and headache. More severe side effects, including trouble urinating, breast swelling, and prolonged erections, have also been noted. When taken for bodybuilding purposes, side effects, like reduced erectile function, increased anger, and anxiety may result. Severe side effects should be reported to a physician immediately. Patients prescribed Oxandrolone should fill out a complete medical history before taking the drug. A medical history of kidney problems, high blood pressure, and all types of cancer may affect the decision to prescribe Oxandrolone. Blood sugar levels may be decreased when taking Anavar or Oxandrin, so diabetic patients should be wary of taking the medication.

Interactions with other medications may increase health risks associated with taking this anabolic steroid. Corticosteroids, blood thinners, and certain herbal supplements can negatively interact with oxandrolone. Taking corticosteroids with Anavar or Oxandrin may increase the risk of heart failure or edema. In the bodybuilding community, oxandrolone is often taken as an oral cutting agent. These are thought to increase muscle hardness, maximize lifting strength, and decrease body fat. Taking oxandrolone without a prescription for bodybuilding purposes is illegal in the United States.

As an anabolic steroid, Oxandrolone is considered mild. High doses are typically prescribed to deter wasting, or weight loss, associated with disease. AIDS patients, for instance, can be prescribed 20 to 80 milligrams (mg) to counteract weight loss. Bodybuilders typically take 100 mg or more to achieve optimal cutting effects. Such steroids are typically cycled in and out of a bodybuilding diet. Cycles may include eight to 12 weeks on the drug, followed by several weeks off, before restarting them. These drugs are often stacked, or taken in conjunction, with other supplements or medications.

Psychological dependence has been noted in the bodybuilding community. During the on cycle, increased muscle gains and energy may leave bodybuilders feeling powerful. During off cycles, gains tend to reduce or cease all together and energy may wane. These negative effects on muscle and energy can lead to drug abuse. Anavar was originally developed to treat severe weight loss and has was prescribed for muscle wasting diseases, including AIDS. It was found that dosages of 5-10 mgs a day gave good results. But the prevention of muscle wasting and muscle building are two very different things.

Of course, as with ANY oral steroid once you go too far beyond 50 mgs or so, that’s when the potential problems begin. However, Var is thought of as less toxic to the liver than most other orals. Unfortunately, that belief is complete myth. Once again, the studies on the low toxicity of Var were done with the recommended dosages for medicinal purposes. Naturally, at 2.5 – 5 mgs a day one can expect no impact on the liver at all. This skewed evaluation falls under the category known as “bro-ology science.” In other words, someone does some reading, learns a little scientific knowledge, upon which he draws an seemingly reasonable yet erroneous conclusion, which in turn is then parroted endlessly from one so-called “expert” to another and on to a legion of followers. And on and on it goes. Before long, it’s considered common knowledge. Don’t be fooled. Anavar is 17 alpha alkylated , which in simple terms means that it is formulated to prevent breakdown in the liver. This makes for a greater effect but puts a tremendous strain on the liver. THAT is the main problem with orals, NOT the toxicity of the substance itself . And that is why Var in effective dosages should be regarded as hepatotoxic as most other oral steroids. Var can be stacked with any other steroid and can provide a welcome addition to any cycle. If you’re a newcomer to steroids and decide to use Anavar by itself, you can put on some solid muscle just don’t expect overnight gains. Var increases anabolism tremendously, which essentially means it allows the muscles to absorb more protein. So the muscle building process is intensified but keep in mind, it still takes some time to grow muscle . People often confuse actual muscle growth with a steroid taking time to kick in, when in fact it begins working immediately, it’s just that muscle growth takes time to show. You probably won’t notice much at all until the third or fourth week. This is where Var is too often underestimated. Since the effect is strictly of an anabolic nature, the muscle grown on Var is usually very solid and long lasting. It’s fair to expect up to five pounds of pure muscle from using 25 mgs a day for a month. That may not seem like a lot. When using steroids, people expect to see those numbers on the scale go up (even if it’s temporary or from water weight). That won’t happen with Var which is why many consider it weak. But imagine five pounds of meat spread out throughout your body. That’s a good amount of lean mass.

Anavar is not considered a good drug for “bulking” for the fact that it doesn’t cause water retention, nor does it increase blood volume. (Something dianabol does to a great degree). Therefore, there is no significant weight gain. But Var does increase strength dramatically, due in part to the increase in creatine production and utilization which increases contractile strength, so it can be a great asset to a bulking program where lifting heavier weights is paramount to gaining size. Don’t surprised if your bench goes up 20% within a few weeks. That’s how powerful it truly is.

Var is often compared to Winstrol since both produce very “dry” gains, but the two drugs are nothing at all alike. Winstrol is a derivative of DHT , therefore it’s most androgenic and has masculating sides effects. (Hair loss, increased body hair, tougher skin, etc). Var has almost no androgenic properties. This is another advantage in that Var doesn’t cause a hard shut down of the HPTA. Though like all steroids, its structure is based off of the testosterone molecule, there’s bound to be some suppression, but it will be minimal with Var. So if you want to give your cycle some “kick” without stressing the HPTA, or if you’re a first or second timer and want to take something that won’t be that hard to recover from, Var is an excellent choice.

Because Var doesn’t cause much water retention high blood pressure shouldn’t be a problem. Because of its mild androgenic nature, it does not “aromatize.” Aromatization is when the body gets flooded with too much androgen and converts some of it into estrogen. That causes bloating, acne, and a possible loss of libido. Due to its low androgenic profile, Anavar is a favorite among women. They can gain muscle without the fear of masculizing side effects such as excess body hair. Excess estrogen is not a problem with Var and that too appeals to women going for a leaner more defined look. 5-10 mgs a day are as far as a gal may want to push it though. Too much more than that and the risk/benefit starts to tilt in an unfavorable direction.

Oral anabolic steroids to maintain the health of AIDS patients

Oral anabolic steroids (no the injectable kind like nandrolone) can tax the liver and lower good cholesterol (HDL). You are planning to take dianabol, an oral anabolic not approved in the US and one known for its liver, blood pressure and lowering HDL issues. It is a 17 alpha alkylated anabolic that has been designed to slow down its destruction by the liver.

Only Nandrolone Decanoate (Deca durabolin) and Oxandrolone have been studied in HIV related unintentional weight loss. Oxandrolone is a mild oral anabolic but one that can also increase liver enzymes. Nandrolone does not have this issue (it is not a 17 alpha alkylated anabolic), but some men can have increases in hematocrit and blood viscosity (not good for the heart). All anabolic shut down your own body's testosterone production, so it is good to supplement with testosterone to ensure normal sex drive and function. Playing around with anabolic steroids without doing a lot of reading and research is foolish in my opinion. You should be monitored by a physician to follow hematocrit, PSA, blood pressure, estradiol related issues (like breast enlargement), liver enzymes, etc. Men with HIV that are going to use anabolic no matter what at least engage in some harm reduction by reading and informing themselves about these potent hormones that have helped us in the past survive by combating wasting syndrome. A good bodybuilder is a smart bodybuilder. Over eight studies have shown nandrolone to be effective for increasing lean body mass (LBM) and strength in men and women with HIV. A randomized, placebo controlled trial in 38 women conducted by the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) reported significant increases in weight and lean body mass after 12 weeks of Nandrolone therapy (100 mg every two weeks). There were no differences between the groups in fat increases or in clinical or laboratory adverse events. Hoarseness, hirsutism, and clitoral enlargement were noted rarely in the treated group.  A recent study by Wanke reported that as many as 29 percent of people with HIV in the era of HAART are still losing weight or lean body mass, despite undetectable viral loads.

Nandrolone decanoate is especially attractive because of its benign side effects profile compared to alternative steroids. According to Vergel, unlike oral steroids such as Oxandrin and Anadrol, nandrolone does not impact liver function lab markers at the low doses used in HIV a crucial issue for many people with overtaxed livers from HAART or HCV. One of the FDA approved products to treat HIV-wasting, Megace (megestrol acetate), tends to produce its weight gain due to increases in fat rather than lean body mass -- and adding fat during AIDS wasting has not been shown to improve survival. Megace, a female sex hormone, has also been associated with side effects such as diabetes, blood clots, impotence and the development of female sex characteristics. Another agent approved to treat HIV wasting, Serostim (recombinant human growth hormone), lacks evidence of benefit beyond 12 weeks. FDA-approved appetite stimulants such as Marinol contain the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana (THC), notes Brenda Lein of Project Inform, and "thus is not a preference for many people with HIV who are in recovery." Also, it's theorized that Marinol may simply owe its ability to increase weight to a side effect of the THC high that people get the munchies and tend to eat more.

Winstrol and Equipoise are both not good on the liver since they both are 17 alpha alkylated. Nandrolone is not liver toxic, not 17 alpha alkylated and it has been studied in doses up to 600 mg a week in HIV. Most HIV positive men who need help gaining lean body mass use it at conservative dose of 200 mg Nandrolone plus 200 mg of Testosterone Cypionate every two weeks for 12-16 weeks and most stay on testosterone replacement therapy after stopping the Nandrolone so that you do not lose muscle mass and quality of life.
The FDA and most people did not seem to care even after some of us tried to stop this.You can also gain lean body mass by weight training and consuming a balanced diet. Supplements like creatine, whey protein and others have been shown to help.

Steroid Can Restore Body Tissue in HIV-Positive People

Of the 3 orally dynamic anabolic steroids, Oxandrolone has been studied in HIV-infected patients more extensively than has oxymetholone. Stanozolol is used for the treatment of hereditary angioedema and has not been used for its anabolic effect in this patient populace to any great extent.

One of the earlier studies of Oxandrolone in HIV-infected patients was begun before the introduction of the PIs. Sixty-three HIV-infected men with a deprivation of corpse weight greater than 10% were randomized to receive placebo, oxandrolone, 5 mg/d or Oxandrolone, 15 mg/d. The patients who received 15 mg/d of oxandrolone gained weight throughout the 16-week interval, whereas those who received 5 mg/d of oxandrolone maintained their weight. In contrast, the patients who received placebo continued to lose weight.

In a follow-up study, which has not yet been published, patients were randomized to placebo or to 1 of 3 dosages of Oxandrolone 20 mg/d, 40 mg/d, or 80 mg/d. The patients in the group who received 40 mg/d had the most statistically significant weight gain. However, both the patients in this assembly and those who received 80 mg/d showed important increases in serum levels of liver transaminases.

A study published in 1999 sought to terminate whether a regimen of supraphysiologic doses of androgen (testosterone) plus an anabolic steroid (oxandrolone) would better the LBM and strength gains achieved with advancing resistance exercise in HIV-infected men who had practised weight loss. A second objective of the study was to determine whether antiretroviral remedy with a PI prevented lean corpse anabolism.

All subjects in the study participated in supervised progressive resistance exercise for 8 weeks. At the same period, they received testosterone, 100 mg/wk, by intramuscular injection. Twenty-four eugonadal men were then randomized to either placebo or oxandrolone, 20 mg/d. Twenty-two patients completed the read. The results indicated that compared with patients who received placebo, those who received oxandrolone experienced improved nitrogen weigh (P = .05); increased LBM (P = .005) and increased muscle strength, as judged by either maximum weight lifted (P = .02 to .05) or dynamometry (P = .01 to .05). The results were like regardless of whether the patients were taking a PI. However, compared with placebo, oxandrolone was associated with a statistically significant decrease in blood levels of high-den-sity lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P < .001).

Because all patients in the study participated in progressive opposition training and received testosterone, only an additive effect of Oxandrolone versus placebo was being decided. Therefore, the study appears to be valid even though the number of patients enrolled was little. On the other hand, had the design of the study called for dividing the patients into multiple groups, so that not all patients received testosterone or participated in progressive resistance exercise, the number of patients required to reach statistical significance would have been much higher on the organization of 350.

The conclusions that can be drawn from the study are that Oxandrolone 20 mg/d, added to a program consisting of both progressive resistance exercise and physiologic doses of testosterone improved the anabolic and functional responses in patients who showed HIV-related weight loss.

Only 1 study of oxymetholone in HIV-infected patients has been reported. This study was a nonblinded pilot trial that was completed in Germany and reported in 1996. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either Oxymetholone (14 patients) or Oxymetholone plus ketotifen (16 patients). Ketotifen is an H1-receptor antagonist that has been shown to block tumor necrosis factor A. The patients receiving the medications under study were compared with 30 matched control patients who met the same inclusion criteria, such as advanced HIV infection and chronic cachexia.

At entry into the study, all patients had experienced significant weight loss (greater than 12 kg [26.4 lb]). The average weight get by the patients who received Oxymetholone was 8.2 kg (18 lb), a 14.5% grow over weight at entry (P < .001). The average weight gain by the patients who received association therapy was 6.1 kg (13.4 lb), a 10.9% increase over weight at entry (P < .005). The untreated control patients lost an average of 1.8 kg (4 lb). Both groups of treated patients showed improvement in the ability to perform activities of daily living and in several quality-of-life variables. Although this study was not a double-blind clinical trial, the investigators believed that the results suggested the need for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial.