- Anavar (oxandrolone) is the mildest common oral steroid, which is why it’s popular for cutting and with women. Mild doesn’t mean harmless.
- Its biggest health effect is on cholesterol: HDL (“good” cholesterol) can fall sharply, even at moderate doses.
- It still suppresses natural testosterone and can affect fertility, and women can develop irreversible masculinizing effects.
- In Canada it’s a Schedule IV anabolic steroid: personal possession isn’t an offence; trafficking, importing and exporting are.
Anavar is one of the most searched steroids in Canada, and one of the most misunderstood. It has a reputation as a “safe” steroid, a cutting drug, and the one oral women can use. Some of that is true, some isn’t. This guide covers what oxandrolone actually is, what the research shows about results and risks, what doctors prescribed it for, and what Canadians should know before buying it.
What is Anavar?
Anavar is the original brand name for oxandrolone, a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It was developed in the early 1960s and approved to help patients regain weight after surgery, severe trauma, burns and chronic infection, and to ease bone pain from osteoporosis. It was later studied in HIV-related wasting, Turner syndrome and alcoholic hepatitis.
Two features made it attractive to doctors. It has a high ratio of muscle-building to masculinizing effects, and because it’s DHT-based it doesn’t convert to estrogen, so there’s no water retention or breast tissue growth from estrogen. In 2023 the US FDA withdrew approval of oxandrolone products, concluding that their benefits no longer outweighed the risks, which included liver and cholesterol effects. Oxandrolone isn’t marketed in Canadian pharmacies.
How it works
Oxandrolone binds the androgen receptor in muscle, increasing protein synthesis and nitrogen retention. Like most oral steroids it’s 17-alpha-alkylated, a chemical change that lets it survive the first pass through the liver. That modification is also why oral steroids are harder on the liver than most injectables.
Users choose it for:
- Preserving muscle while dieting
- Strength gains without much weight gain
- A “harder”, drier look, since there’s no estrogen-driven water retention
- A first oral, or a compound for women, because its masculinizing effects are weaker than most steroids
What results look like
The clinical research gives a realistic picture. In a 12-week study of healthy older men taking 20 mg a day, lean body mass rose by roughly 3 kg on average and fat mass fell, without any change in diet or training. Burn and HIV-wasting studies show similar, steady gains in lean mass. These are meaningful results, but they’re modest compared with the before-and-after photos online, which usually reflect diet, training, lighting and other drugs.
Expect strength and muscle retention, not dramatic size. Most of the visual change people attribute to Anavar comes from losing fat while keeping muscle.
Clinical reference doses
When oxandrolone was prescribed, the usual adult dose was 2.5 mg two to four times a day (5 to 10 mg daily), up to a maximum of 20 mg a day, typically for two to four weeks at a time. For children with specific growth conditions, doses were far lower. These figures are for reference only; there is no medically approved dose for bodybuilding, and doses used recreationally are often higher than anything studied.
Side effects
Cholesterol
This is the most important one. Oxandrolone can lower HDL (“good”) cholesterol dramatically, sometimes by half or more, and raise LDL. Lower HDL increases cardiovascular risk over time, and the effect shows up within weeks. See our guide to steroids and cholesterol.
Liver
As a 17-alpha-alkylated oral, it can raise liver enzymes (ALT and AST). It’s considered milder on the liver than Dianabol or Anadrol, but serious liver problems such as peliosis hepatis (blood-filled cysts) and liver tumours have been reported with long-term use of this class.
Natural testosterone and fertility
Anavar suppresses LH and FSH, which lowers your own testosterone and sperm production. Suppression is milder than with testosterone or nandrolone, but it’s real. Read our fertility guide if you plan to have children.
Women
Oxandrolone is less androgenic than most steroids, not non-androgenic. Women can develop acne, increased body and facial hair, a deeper voice, menstrual changes and clitoral enlargement. A deeper voice and clitoral changes can be permanent. Stop at the first sign and talk to a doctor.
Other effects
- Hair loss in people predisposed to male-pattern baldness (it’s DHT-derived)
- Acne and oily skin
- Higher blood pressure in some users
- Muscle pumps and cramps, often reported in the lower back
Bloodwork in Canada
Before, during and after use, check:
- Lipid panel (HDL, LDL, triglycerides)
- Liver enzymes (ALT, AST, GGT)
- Total testosterone, LH, FSH and estradiol
- Complete blood count and blood pressure
Ask your family doctor for a requisition or book privately at LifeLabs or Dynacare. Our guide to reading your blood work explains the numbers.
Is Anavar legal in Canada?
Oxandrolone is an anabolic steroid, listed in Schedule IV of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. Possessing it for personal use isn’t an offence; trafficking, importing and exporting without authorization are. Because importing is the offence, buying from a source that ships within Canada avoids the CBSA entirely.
Buying Anavar in Canada
Pressed tablets are the most commonly faked steroid, so the source matters more than usual. Check our guide to spotting fake Anavar. We stock two versions, both 20 mg tablets:
| Product | Pack | Total | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zionova Anavar | 2 bottles x 50 tablets | 2,000 mg | $200 |
| Anavar Genetix Pharma | 50 tablets | 1,000 mg | $135 |
Per milligram, the Zionova pack works out about 30% cheaper. Live prices and a cost-per-day calculator are on the oral steroids page. If you’re weighing Anavar against Winstrol, see Anavar vs Winstrol.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anavar safe?
No steroid is safe, but oxandrolone is milder than most. The main risks are a large drop in HDL cholesterol, liver strain, suppressed natural testosterone and, in women, masculinizing effects that can be permanent.
What is a normal Anavar dose?
When it was prescribed, adults typically took 5 to 10 mg a day, with 20 mg a day as the maximum. There is no approved dose for bodybuilding.
Does Anavar need post cycle therapy?
It suppresses natural testosterone, so recovery takes time. Whether PCT is needed depends on the degree of suppression, which bloodwork after stopping will show. See our PCT guide.
Can women take Anavar?
It’s the steroid most often used by women because its masculinizing effects are weaker, but they still happen, and voice deepening can be permanent.
How long does Anavar stay in your system?
Its half-life is about 9 to 10 hours, so it clears in a few days, but drug tests can detect its metabolites for weeks.
Is Anavar legal in Canada?
It’s Schedule IV under the CDSA. Personal possession isn’t an offence; trafficking, importing and exporting without authorization are.
Products mentioned in this guide
This article is general information for adults in Canada, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before using any prescription drug, anabolic steroid or research compound, and get bloodwork done. If you’re in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline) any time.
