Oxymetholone

Oxymetholone is a prescription medication used to treat the symptoms of anemia caused due to insufficient red blood cell production.

• Oxymetholone is available under the following different brand names: Anabolic Steroids

Common side effects of Oxymetholone include:

• acne,
• male pattern baldness,
• breast swelling or tenderness (in men or women),
• feeling restless or excited,
• sleep problems (insomnia),
• nausea,
• vomiting, and
• diarrhea

Serious side effects of Oxymetholone include:

• nausea,
• upper stomach pain,
• rapid weight gain (in the face or midsection),
• loss of appetite,
• dark urine,
• clay-colored stools,
• yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice),
• painful or difficult urination,
• increased interest in sex,
• painful or ongoing erection of the penis,
• loss of interest in sex,
• impotence,
• trouble having an orgasm,
• decreased amount of semen when you ejaculate,
• easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums),
• bleeding that won’t stop,
• painful swelling in the breasts,
• changes in skin color,
• shortness of breath, and
• swelling in the hands or feet
• Specific to women:
• hoarse or deepened voice,
• increased facial hair,
• hair growth on the chest,
• male pattern baldness,
• enlarged clitoris,
• changes in the menstrual periods, and
• increased or decreased interest in sex

Rare side effects of Oxymetholone include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Tablet: Schedule III

• 50 mg

Anemia Due to Deficient Red Cell Production

Adult dosage

• 1-5 mg/kg orally once a day for 3-6 months  
• 1-2 mg/kg orally once a day is usually effective

Pediatric dosage

• Children 1-5 mg/kg once a day for 3-6 months
• Children 1-2 mg/kg once a day is usually effective

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Oxymetholone has severe interactions with no other drugs.
• Oxymetholone has serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • cyclosporine
  • pexidartinib
  • pretomanid
  • warfarin
• Oxymetholone has moderate interactions with the following drugs:
  • carbamazepine
  • nicotine intranasal
• Oxymetholone has minor interactions with at least 37 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Males: known or suspected prostate or breast CA
• Females: breast cancer with hypercalcemia; pregnancy
• Nephrosis or the nephrotic phase of nephritis
• Hypersensitivity
• Severe hepatic dysfunction

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Oxymetholone?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Oxymetholone?”

Cautions

• Peliosis hepatitis has been reported in pts receiving androgenic anabolic steroid therapy; may be associated with life-threatening liver failure or intra-abdominal hemorrhage; the condition usually resolves completely with the drug D/C
• Liver cell tumors have been reported- most often benign and androgen-dependent but fatal malignant tumors have been reported
• Cholestatic hepatitis & jaundice may occur at low doses
• Caution in cardiac disease, DM, hepatic disease, renal, elderly, pediatric patients, women, edematous conditions
• Concomitant administration of adrenal corticoid steroid or ACTH, oral anticoagulants
• Hypercalcemia may occur in breast CA patients
• Dec. total T4 serum levels, insert. T3/T4 resin uptake, unchanged free thyroid hormone levels, & no clinical evidence for thyroid dysfunction
• May accelerate bone maturation in children
• Increases Prothrombin time; suppresses clotting factors V, VII, and X
• May increase LDL & decreases HDL

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Do not use it in pregnancy. The risks involved outweigh the potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.
• Lactation
  • Unknown if excreted; not recommended